The Grand National weights have been revealed for the 2026 race at Aintree, with every runner now allocated the rating they will run with.
From here on, it doesn’t matter what happens. The handicapper can no longer have any say. It comes after the traditional Grand National weights launch, which took place on Tuesday.
There are plenty of big names, especially at the head of the weights, and some former contenders who will be back looking to win the race again.
Plus, news on the current favourite for the race, Iroko, and what he’s been given after a promising fourth last year.
The field will include forfeit stages, where runners can be removed. Still, final declarations will come on Wednesday, before the race, with new 72-hour declarations among the recent changes for this race.
I Am Maximus Allocated Grand National Top Weight
A familiar name heads the field, as I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins, sits at the top of the pile.
He’s been given a rating of 168 and has been allotted 11st 12lb. He won the 2024 Grand National, and finished second last year, showcasing his ability for this gruelling test.
Last year’s second-place finish was off 167, so he’s only 1lb higher for the 2026 renewal. Should he manage to win off that kind of mark, then it would surely have to go down as one of the greatest performances in recent years.
Behind I Am Maximus come two more big names, both rated 167, meaning they’ll carry 1lb less than the top weight.
First up, Nick Rockett, the horse who won the 2025 Grand National for Willie Mullins and his son Patrick. He’s up in the weights for that performance and will have to improve plenty if he’s to get involved of this higher weight.
Banbridge, another Irish runner, this time for Joseph O’Brien, is the second horse off 167, and while there are doubts over his ability to stay the trip, there’s no doubting his quality.
He’s won the Kempton King George in 2024 and was second in the race in 2025, showing the kind of quality he possesses. However, the Gold Cup distance seems a stretch for him, so this Grand National distance, unless something changes rapidly, does look a step too far
Antepost Grand National Favourite Iroko Handed 11st 1lb
When the weights were revealed, instead of looking at the top, many people would have no doubt been looking further down the pile to find a horse named Iroko.
Currently the Grand National favourite in the antepost market, he’s been handed a nice racing weight of 11st 1lb, and is guaranteed a run, as number 20 on the list of entries.
He caught the eye last season, finishing fourth under 10st 11lb last year.
He was second behind The Jukebox Man to start the season, form that has been franked by him winning the King George and could be franked further when he runs in the Gold Cup.
We’ve seen Iroko once since then, when he won a race at Ascot in December in fairly comfortable style. Last year, he ran in the Premier Chase at Kelso at the start of March, after the weights were released for the Grand National, and that appears to be the plan again, running somewhere now that the weights have been revealed.
His price for the Grand National ranges from 5/1 up to 7/1 depending on the firm you’re looking at, and as we stand, he is the only runner in single figures for the race.
