Grand National Favourites: Best Odds & Horses to Bet On
Last Updated 1 day ago | By The GrandNational.org.uk StaffThis year’s race proved a profitable one for anyone who backed the Grand National favourite, I Am Maximus. Next year’s renewal has already been priced up, so find out whether bookmakers are expecting the same winner, or if a new contender is predicted to shake up the pecking order.
Find all the favourites in the Grand National betting, ahead of the race on Saturday 10th April, to help you decide how best to use any Grand National free bets you may have.
Who is the Grand National 2027 favourite?
The head of the Grand National betting is dominated by horses that performed well in last year’s race.
It’ll be little surprise to find out that I Am Maximus is the name at the head of the list. Willie Mullins’ horse has already etched his name into Grand National folklore, following up a win in 2024 and second spot in 2025 with a second victory in 2026, despite being given the top weight to carry. With Red Rum’s trio of triumphs in sight, I Am Maximus is sure to prove a popular pick come race day, so bookmakers will be wary of running up significant liabilities.
Also prominent in the betting is Iroko, who actually went off as the Grand National favourite in 2025. Like I Am Maximus, he boasts impressive form round the famous Aintree track, following up a fourth place finish in 2025 by coming home as the runner-up in 2026.
Johnnywho is another horse who knows his way around Aintree. He ran well in the 2026 race, and ultimately finished third, although backers will wonder what could have been if a stray horse hadn’t impeded him in the closing stages.
If you’re looking for a new horse to consider, then Soldier In Milan could be the one for you. The Irish Grand National is often seen as the perfect preparation for the English version of the race, and March saw him destroy a 30 runner field by 16 lengths on soft ground.
Grand National Favourites & Odds
Interpreting the odds of the Grand National favourites can be tough, particularly if you don’t bet on a regular basis, so we’ve also converted the odds into percentages to help you understand how likely your bet is to win.
| Grand National horses | Grand National latest odds | Implied Chance % |
|---|---|---|
| I Am Maximus | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Soldier In Milan | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| Iroko | 16/1 | 5.9% |
| Jordans | 16/1 | 5.9% |
| Johnnywho | 25/1 | 3.8% |
| Grangeclare West | 25/1 | 3.8% |
| Jagwar | 33/1 | 2.9% |
| Holloway Queen | 33/1 | 2.9% |
| Mr Hope Street | 33/1 | 2.9% |
| Kiss Will | 33/1 | 2.9% |
Grand National Odds updated on 19th June 2026. Odds subject to change. % may not add up to 100% due to bookmakers margin.
Grand National 2027 favourites, runners and odds
We won’t know the confirmed runners and riders until the week of the race, but it’s still worth finding out more about the most like Grand National favourites for the 2027 Grand National at Aintree:
I Am Maximus
- Age: 10
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Previous Grand National form: 1st in 2024, 2nd in 2025 and 1st in 2026
- Best known for: Winning the Grand National in 2024 before repeating the feat two years later.
- Grand National 2027 betting odds: 12/1
Soldier In Milan
- Age: 7
- Trainer: Emmet Mullins
- Previous Grand National Form: N/A
- Best known for: Dominating the Irish Grand National as a 7 year old, winning by 16 lengths.
- Grand National 2027 betting odds: 14/1
Iroko
- Age: 8
- Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
- Previous Grand National Form: 4th in 2025 and 2nd in 2026
- Best known for: Cheltenham Festival win in 2023, then going on to consecutive top four finishes in the Grand National.
- Grand National 2027 betting odds: 16/1
Jordans
- Age: 7
- Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
- Previous Grand National Form: 3rd in 2026.
- Best known for: Third place in 2026 Grand National, having looked like a potential winner before a loose horse distracted him.
- Grand National 2027 betting odds: 16/1
Johnnywho
- Age: 9
- Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill
- Previous Grand National Form: 4rd in 2026.
- Best known for: A stellar end to the 2025/26 season, winning the Ultima at Cheltenham, and finishing fourth in the Grand National a month later.
- Grand National 2027 betting odds: 25/1
*Odds displayed above correct at 4pm on 19th June 2026.
Who will win the Grand National in 2027?
We’re all keen to know who will win the Grand National 2027. Perhaps you’ve got some Grand National free bets that you’re keen to use. Bookmakers believe that I Am Maximus is most likely to win the race as they have the two-time winner as the current favourite.
However, the favourite doesn’t always win. Since 2011, only 4 betting favourites have won the Grand National. Before you place our bet, make sure to have a look at our latest Grand National tips and predictions.
How many favourites have won the Grand National?
A grand total of 17 favourites or joint-favourites have landed the Grand National since the turn of the 20th century. The two most recent Grand Nationals which were won by favourites were the victories of I Am Maximus, so it’ll be intriguing to see whether lightning could strike for a third time.
- I Am Maximus – 2026 (9/2)
- I Am Maximus – 2024 (7/1)
- Corach Rambler – 2023 (8/1)
- Tiger Roll – 2019 (4/1)
- Don’t Push It – 2010 (10/1jf)
- Comply Or Die – 2008 (7/1jf)
- Hedgehunter – 2005 (7/1)
- Earth Summit – 1998 (7/1)
- Rough Quest – 1996 (7/1)
- Grittar – 1982 (7/1)
- Red Rum – 1973 (9/1jf)
- Merryman II – 1960 (13/2)
- Freebooter – 1950 (10/1)
- Sprig – 1927 (8/1)
- Poethlyn – 1920 (11/4)
- Jerry M – 1912 (4/1jf)
- Drumcree – 1903 (13/2)
Previous Grand National favourites’ results
| Year | Horse | Odds | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | I Am Maximus | 9/2 | Won |
| 2025 | Iroko | 13/2 | 4th |
| 2024 | I Am Maximus | 7/1 | Won |
| 2023 | Corach Rambler | 8/1 | Won |
| 2022 | Any Second Now | 15/2 | 2nd |
| 2021 | Cloth Cap | 11/2 | Pulled up |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll | 4/1 | Won |
| 2018 | Total Recall | 7/1 | Pulled up |
| 2017 | Blaklion | 8/1 | 4th |
| 2016 | The Last Samuri Many Clouds | 8/1 | 2nd 16th |
| 2015 | Shutthefrontdoor | 6/1 | 5th |
| 2014 | Double Seven Teaforthree | 10/1 | 3rd Unseated |
| 2013 | Seabass | 11/2 | 13th |
| 2012 | Seabass Shakalakaboomboom | 8/1 | 3rd 9th |
Grand National predictions
Grand National 2027 predictions are what discerning punters try to find to make informed betting decisions. Whether you see content put together from Grand National experts or teams of long-term horse racing tipsters, it is crucial that you find trusted sources. Sometimes, it’s better to look past the Grand National favourites.
What percentage of favourites place in horse races? On average favourites win about 35% of horse races. But, that win percentage can fluctuate based on the distance, surface and class.
These experts will make their 2026 Grand National tips based on several factors:
Age
There are pros and cons that come with betting on different aged Grand National horses. Younger horses tend to have more speed than stamina while older ones go vice versa. However, the latter usually come with a better record in the race due to their experience in making difficult jumps. A horse needs to be in its prime to stand a chance in the Grand National, and this usually happens between 8 and 11 years of age.
Those making Grand National predictions go back through the history of the Festival and see how age affects performance. The last 7-year-old to win the Grand National before Noble Yeats in 2022 was Bogskar way back in 1940.
Weight
A Grand National horse’s weight has historically been seen as the most essential statistical factor Grand National tipsters take into consideration. The majority of Grand National winners are saddled with 10st 13lbs or less to carry.
However the feats of I Am Maximus show that weight may no longer be the barrier that it used to be. He went off as the top weight in 2026, carrying 11st 12lbs, but still came through to win, duly becoming the first top weight to be first across the finishing line since a certain Red Rum did so in 1974.
Previous experience
A Grand National contender’s ability to perform in high-class races should also be considered. Runners that have shown their competitiveness in a listed race, or at the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals, are not to be missed, while having previous experience over the Grand National fences is another plus.
Stamina
Stamina is a key factor for long-distance wins, more so at the Grand National which is run over more than four miles and typically lasts around nine minutes. Given that the Grand National comes shortly after another demanding meeting – the Cheltenham Festival – horses need to be in tip-top form to recover from the tough run and enter the Grand National with a winner’s attitude. 29 of the last 33 Grand National winners had a chase race over at least 3m, with Noble Yeats being one of the few horses to buck this trend.
Other Grand National trends are worth looking back on too, to find the best profile of previous Grand National winners. After all, if a certain horse (age, weight, form) has performed well in the race many times in the past, there’s a big chance a horse with a similar profile will also do well. The Virtual Grand National is the ultimate Grand National predictor, combining all these factors and trends in a visual way, and with a fair amount of success too.
Take a punt on the world’s most famous race and bet on the 2027 Grand National! Who will win the Grand National 2027? Have a look at our Grand National betting tips and predictions.
Grand National Betting Favourites FAQs
Who is the favourite to win the 2027 Grand National?
The current betting favourite to win the 2027 Grand National is I Am Maximus, who won the race for the second time in 2026. I Am Maximus has finished in the top two positions for three successive years, and also won in the Irish National in 2023, so he’s certainly a force to be reckoned with.
How often does the favourite win the Grand National?
Grand National favourites have historically struggled to justify their positions at the head of the Grand National betting odds, but that trend has shifted in recent years. Just one Grand National favourite won the race between 2011 and 2022. But Grand National favourites have performed better of late, with favourites Corach Rambler and I Am Maximus coming out on top, in 2023, 2024 and again in 2026.
What date is the 2027 Grand National?
The Grand National is on Saturday 10th April 2027 at 4pm.
How many horses will be running in the 2027 Grand National?
Up to 34 horses will be allowed to run in the Grand National. The 2024 Grand National was the first to have the runners for the race reduced from 40 to 34 and it remained a great spectacle.
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