Grand National weights and entries 2026
Last Updated 4 weeks ago | By The GrandNational.org.uk StaffThe weights for the 2026 Grand National runners have been announced. I Am Maximus, who won the race in 2024 and came home as runner-up 12 months ago, has again been made the top weight for 2026, and given 11 stones 12 pounds to carry. If he manages to win the race for a second time, he’d become the heaviest winner since the legendary Red Rum in 1974.
Grand National weights 2026
Keeping an eye on the weights and any potential changes is crucial for anyone looking to place bets on the race. With the weights now revealed, we have a clearer picture of the contenders, meaning we can make more informed decisions about the best bets to place.
We can reveal all the official 2026 Grand National weights below, alongside their odds for the race. You can also check out our Grand National runners list, which is sorted by current odds.
| Grand National horses | Grand National weights | 2026 Grand National odds |
|---|---|---|
| I Am Maximus | 11st 12lbs | 12/1 |
| Banbridge | 11st 11lbs | 50/1 |
| Nick Rockett | 11st 11lbs | 25/1 |
| Gerri Colombe | 11st 10lbs | 50/1 |
| Grangeclare West | 11st 10lbs | 25/1 |
| Grey Dawning | 11st 10lbs | 66/1 |
| Haiti Couleurs | 11st 10lbs | 16/1 |
| L’Homme Presse | 11st 8lbs | 66/1 |
| Spillane’s Tower | 11st 8lbs | 33/1 |
| Impaire Et Passe | 11st 5lbs | 50/1 |
| Appreciate It | 11st 4lbs | 100/1 |
| Firefox | 11st 4lbs | 50/1 |
| Gentlemansgame | 11st 3lbs | 50/1 |
| Monty’s Star | 11st 3lbs | 25/1 |
| Spanish Harlem | 11st 3lbs | 50/1 |
| Lecky Watson | 11st 2lbs | 50/1 |
| Champ Kiely | 11st 1lb | 66/1 |
| Favori De Champdou | 11st 1lb | 50/1 |
| Flooring Porter | 11st 1lb | 66/1 |
| Iroko | 11st 1lb | 7/1 fav |
| Western Fold | 11st 1lb | 50/1 |
| Three Card Brag | 11st | 50/1 |
| Handstands | 10st 13lbs | 66/1 |
| Oscars Brother | 10st 13lbs | 33/1 |
| Mr Vango | 10st 12lbs | 66/1 |
| Beauport | 10st 11lbs | 100/1 |
| Better Days Ahead | 10st 11lbs | 50/1 |
| High Class Hero | 10st 11lbs | 50/1 |
| Ile Atlantique | 10st 11lbs | 100/1 |
| Resplendent Grey | 10st 11lbs | 33/1 |
| Stellar Story | 10st 11lbs | 50/1 |
| Captain Cody | 10st 10lbs | 25/1 |
| French Dynamite | 10st 10lbs | 100/1 |
| Jagwar | 10st 10lbs | 50/1 |
*Odds are subject to change and are correct as of 3:40pm on 17th February 2026.
Find form & odds for Grand National 2026 favourites
The betting markets have become significantly more active now that the weights have been announced, as punters can now assess what each horse will have to carry to secure victory at Aintree.
The announcement of the weights also adds an interesting dynamic, as horses are still able to run after the weights are confirmed. This can have a dual effect: some horses that perform well in the lead-up races may rise up the handicap and carry more weight, while others that underperform could drop in the handicap, resulting in a lighter weight. This makes the Grand National even more unpredictable, as both the horses’ form and their handicap weight will play a key role in their chances.
How are Grand National weights determined?
When assigning weights for the Grand National entries, the handicapper considers several factors to ensure a fair and competitive race.
- Past Performance: The horse’s history in previous races is evaluated, with particular attention given to wins, placings, and overall consistency. Horses with a strong record are often assigned higher weights.
- Class of Race: Horses that have competed successfully in higher-class races, such as those at the Cheltenham Festival, may be given heavier weights for the Grand National due to their demonstrated ability at top levels.
- Recent Form: A horse’s performance in recent races is closely scrutinized. Those with good form are likely to carry more weight, reflecting their current ability.
- Distance: The distance of a horse’s previous races is considered. Horses that excel over longer distances may be allocated weights based on their stamina and suitability for the Grand National’s challenging course.
- Track Conditions: The prevailing track conditions, such as ground firmness or softness, play a role in how the handicapper adjusts a horse’s weight. If a horse has struggled in heavy conditions, they may receive more lenient weighting.
Unlike smaller races, where apprentice jockeys may result in a reduction of a horse’s weight, this factor does not apply for the Grand National.
The combination of these factors results in the Grand National handicap. The highest-rated horses are given the top weight of 11-12, with all other runners receiving weights based on this top-rated horse’s allocation.
Weight of previous Grand National winners
Until Many Clouds, no horse carrying more than 11st 7lb had won since Red Rum‘s 1977 third victory, (11st 8lb). However, in the 25 runnings of the Grand National between 1984 and 2009 only one winner (Hedgehunter, 2005) carried more than 11st. The win Don’t Push It in 2010 with 11st 5lb on board heralded a slight change in this trend, with five winners since 2010 carrying 11st or more.
Here are the more recent weights of previous Grand National winners, ordered by weight.
- 11-9 Many Clouds (2015)
- 11-8 Nick Rockett (2025)
- 11-6 Neptunes Collonges (2012)
- 11-6 I Am Maximus (2024)
- 11-5 Tiger Roll (2019)
- 11-5 Don’t Push It (2010)
- 11-0 Ballabriggs (2011)
- 10-13 Tiger Roll (2018)
- 10-11 One For Arthur (2017)
- 10-10 Noble Yeats (2022)
- 10-7 Rule The World (2016)
- 10-6 Pineau De Re (2014)
- 10-5 Corach Rambler (2023)
- 10-3 Auroras Encore (2013)
- 10-3 Minella Times (2021)
Grand National handicap history
The allocation of weights for the Grand National has long been a pivotal factor in determining the chances of trainers, jockeys, and owners, as the Grand National Handicap can either pave the way for glory or create a seemingly insurmountable challenge.
As a handicap race, unlike some other prestigious steeplechases, the Grand National ensures that horses carry varying weights depending on their past performances. The goal of the Grand National handicap is to level the playing field, giving each competitor a fair chance to succeed.
The handicapper’s ideal – though, of course, impossible – outcome is for all horses to finish in a dead heat, but with 34 runners and numerous challenging fences, such a scenario is understandably out of reach. Nonetheless, the aim is to create a competitive and thrilling race where every horse has a fighting chance.
The Grand National is the only race where the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping, Dominic Gardiner-Hill, can use his discretion to determine the weights. He can personally select what each horse will carry and can deviate from the normal handicap ratings.
The horse considered a top weight comes to about 11st 10lb and the weights allotted to the other horses are set in relation to this.
Grand National Handicap compressing
We’ve seen some remarkable performances in the Grand National, with horses like Tiger Roll winning with 11st 5lbs in 2019 and Many Clouds shouldering 11st 9lbs to victory in 2015, marking the heaviest winning weight since Red Rum’s triumph in 1974.
Carrying 11st or more was once considered almost impossible, until Hedgehunter defied the odds in 2005 with 11st 1lb, ending a 22-year streak without a horse carrying such a weight. In fact, in 2009, Mon Mome defied expectations, carrying 11st to win the race, and the top four finishers that year all carried 11st or more. The trend continued with the 2010 winner, Don’t Push It, carrying 11st 5lb, while the runner-up, Black Apalachi, had 11st 6lb.
Looking at the modern era, it’s likely that horses like Bobbyjo, who won with 10st in 1999, wouldn’t have made the start line in the last decade. The weight disparity has shifted over time, with the 1999 winner racing 14lbs out of the handicap.
Although Red Rum remains the last horse to win the Grand National off top weight (and the first since the 1930s), it seems that this feat could be repeated in the near future. For instance, Neptune Collonges became the fifth top-weight winner in 2013, and Many Clouds carried the heaviest weight of any winner since in 2015.
Photo by Rept0n1x is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
As sporting sights go, few can match the sheer excitement of 40 horses thundering towards the first fence at Aintree in the Grand National.
Grand National weights and entries FAQ
Find more relevant information when it comes to weights and entries in the Grand National in our FAQs below.
What are the weights in the Grand National?
Each of the Grand National entries will be allocated a weight to carry based on factors including their past form. The top weight is always set at 11st 12lbs, with the lesser horses having to carry as little as 10st 2lbs. You can find a comprehensive list of the weights on grandnational.org.uk
How do weights work in Grand National?
The Grand National is a handicap race. This means each Grand National entry will be allocated a weight depending on its ability. The top weight will have to carry 11 stones 12 pounds. Historically, horses have struggled to win the Grand National whilst carrying in excess of 11 stones, so the Grand National weights announcement has a big impact on the Grand National betting odds.
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The GrandNational.org.uk Staff
