Grand National 2026 entries longlist revealed

2025 Grand National 4th Iroko seen with jockey Jonjo O’Neill racing at Haydock Park. Credit JTW Equine Images / Alamy.

The list of entries for the 2026 Grand National was officially unveiled on 3rd February, setting the stage for the 178th running of the world’s most famous steeplechase at Aintree on 11th April.

While the quality remains sky-high, the most striking headline from the announcement is the noticeable shift in the quantity of contenders.

A Shrinking Field of Dreams

In years past, the initial entry list for the Grand National regularly surged past the 100-horse mark. However, this year continues a downward trend in participation numbers:

• 2026 Entries: 78

• 2025 Entries: 90

• 2024 Entries: 94

• 2022 Entries: 107

This decline, roughly a 13% drop from last year, reflects a tightening of the handicap and a more selective approach from owners and trainers. With the maximum field size now capped at 34 Grand National runners (reduced from 40 in 2024 for safety reasons), trainers are increasingly opting only to enter horses with a genuine chance of “making the cut” on weight and rating.

Past Champions and Powerhouse Trainers

The 2026 list is headlined by a fascinating dynamic: the return of the two most recent Aintree heroes.

The Heavyweights

• Nick Rockett (Willie Mullins): The defending champion, who secured a historic father-son victory for Willie and Patrick Mullins in 2025, is back to defend his crown. He aims to become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Roll.

• I Am Maximus (Willie Mullins): The 2024 winner and 2025 runner-up remains a formidable force. His consistency at Aintree makes him one of the favourites once again.

• Iroko (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero): Despite the Irish dominance, the current ante-post favorite is British-trained. After finishing a strong fourth last year, Iroko is being specifically campaigned for a 2026 victory.

The “Mullins vs. Elliott” Factor

The “Irish Invasion” remains the dominant theme. Willie Mullins leads the charge with 15 entries, including the likes of Scottish Grand National winner Captain Cody and Grade 1 star Impaire Et Passe.

Gordon Elliott, a three-time National winner, has scaled back his entries to 12 (down from 26 just two years ago) but brings serious quality in Gerri Colombe and Stellar Story.

Noteworthy Absentees and Surprises

The list isn’t just defined by who is on it, but who is missing.

• British Representation: Only 29 of the 78 entries are trained in Britain, highlighting the ongoing struggle for domestic yards to compete with the Irish depth in staying chases.

• Notable Entries: Haiti Couleurs, the Rebecca Curtis-trained star who won the Welsh and Irish Nationals, is a high-profile entry, though his participation may depend on his performance at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

What’s Next?

The weights for the 78 entries will be announced later this month, which will provide a clearer picture of who is likely to make the final 34-runner field.

Grand National entries 2026

• Ain’t That A Shame (Tom Ellis)

• Amirite (Henry De Bromhead)

• Answer To Kayf (Terence O’Brien)

• Anyway (David Kenneth Budds)

• Appreciate It (Willie Mullins)

• Banbridge (Joseph O’Brien)

• Beaufort Scale (Gordon Elliott)

• Beauport (Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)

• Better Days Ahead (Gordon Elliott)

• Blaze The Way (Margaret Mullins)

• Blizzard Of Oz (Willie Mullins)

• Buddy One (Paul John Gilligan)

• Captain Cody (Willie Mullins)

• Champ Kiely (Willie Mullins)

• Croke Park (Gordon Elliott)

• Deafening Silence (Dan Skelton)

• Deep Cave (Christian Williams)

• Escaria Ten (Martin Keighley)

• Favori De Champdou (Gordon Elliott)

• Final Orders (Gavin Cromwell)

• Firefox (Gordon Elliott)

• Flooring Porter (Gavin Cromwell)

• French Dynamite (Eric McNamara)

• Gentlemansgame (Mouse Morris)

• Gerri Colombe (Gordon Elliott)

• Gorgeous Tom (Henry de Bromhead)

• Grangeclare West (Willie Mullins)

• Grey Dawning (Dan Skelton)

• Haiti Couleurs (Rebecca Curtis)

• Handstands (Ben Pauling)

• Harry Des Ongrais (Henry de Bromhead)

• High Class Hero (Willie Mullins)

• Hyland (Nicky Henderson)

• I Am Maximus (Willie Mullins)

• Ile Atlantique (Willie Mullins)

• Impaire Et Passe (Willie Mullins)

• Imperial Saint (Philip Hobbs & Johnson White)

• In d’Or (Fergal O’Brien)

• Intense Raffles (Thomas Gibney)

• Iroko (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)

• Jagwar (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)

• Johnnywho (Jonjo & A J O’Neill)

• Jordans (Joseph O’Brien)

• L’Homme Presse (Venetia Williams)

• Leave Of Absence (Anthony Honeyball)

• Lecky Watson (Willie Mullins)

• Marble Sands (David Killahena & Graeme McPherson)

• Mister Coffey (Nicky Henderson)

• Monbeg Genius (Jonjo & A J O’Neill)

• Monty’s Star (Henry De Bromhead)

• Mr Vango (Sara Bradstock)

• Myretown (Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)

• Nick Rockett (Willie Mullins)

• Now Is The Hour (Gavin Cromwell)

• O’Moore Park (Willie Mullins)

• Oscars Brother (Connor King)

• Paggane (Faye Bramley)

• Panic Attack (Dan Skelton)

• Perceval Legallois (Gavin Cromwell)

• Pic Roc (Ben Pauling)

• Pied Piper (Gordon Elliott)

• Quai De Bourbon (Willie Mullins)

• Resplendent Grey (Olly Murphy)

• Search For Glory (Gordon Elliott)

• Shanbally Kid (Willie Mullins)

• Soul Icon (Keiran Burke)

• Spanish Harlem (Willie Mullins)

• Spillane’s Tower (Jimmy Mangan)

• Stellar Story (Gordon Elliott)

• Stolen Silver (Georgia Nicholls)

• The Real Whacker (Paddy Neville)

• The Short Go (Henry de Bromhead)

• Three Card Brag (Gordon Elliott)

• Top Of The Bill (Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)

• Twig (Ben Pauling)

• Western Fold (Gordon Elliott)

• Weveallbeencaught (Eric McNamara)

• Will Do (Gordon Elliott)

• Yeah Man (Gavin Cromwell)