Martin Greenwood, the British Horseracing Authority's Chase Handicapper for races staged over 2m 7f and further, is handicapping the Randox Grand National for the eighth time in 2026.
One aspect that really stands out to Greenwood about the modern contest is how it has risen in quality.
He said: “This year’s race really stands out in terms of quality. Although entries are slightly down overall, it’s at the bottom end where trainers are now realising there is no point in entering as they have no chance of getting in.
“The number of horses rated 150 plus is the same as last year - 41 - so the quality is still there for all to see.”
Reviewing the 2025 running, Greenwood said: “Last year, the first three horses home were all rated 160-plus, and the Randox Grand National is the highest-class handicap of the season.
“The 2024 winner I Am Maximus is only a pound higher than last year at 168 and if successful for a second time on April 11th that would almost certainly be the highest mark a horse has won off in the modern era. Neptune Collonges was rated 168 after he won the Grand National in 2012 and Suny Bay was second off of 170 in 1998.
“For I Am Maximus to be second off 167 last year was one of the great modern performances in the Grand National and up there with Tiger Roll’s second win in 2019.
“I have pared down last year’s Grand National result so the first three home – Nick Rockett, I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West – are all rated slightly less than they were at the end of last season. There is a kind of compression but not in the traditional sense. By doing this, it should ensure that no horses race from out of the handicap on the day.
“Grangeclare West was third last year and looked as if he would have gone very close but for a mistake at the last. He then ran a stormer at Sandown Park in the bet365 Gold Cup and is 166 this year compared to 163 in 2025.”
On the question of the differences seen in some of the handicap ratings given to Irish-trained horses when they line up in Britain, Greenwood added: “A big difference between us and the Irish handicappers is that they do not take cross country form into account, whereas we do. That is why Final Orders and Favori de Champdou, who have both won over Cheltenham’s Cross Country Course this season, are rated higher in the UK.
“Another horse I have rated higher than my counterparts in Ireland have is Spanish Harlem. I have taken the view that he would have won the Thyestes Chase whereas they say he would have only finished third.
“The rest of the Irish-trained horses are all rated within a pound or two of their mark back home.”
Picking out certain horses in particular, Greenwood added: “There are two novices in the race in Oscars Brother, who needs to run again to qualify but seems to jump pretty soundly, and Western Fold, who has plenty of experience and is a Galway Plate winner. Novices have a good recent record in the race, with Noble Yeats winning in 2023. People are more prepared to run horses who are less battle-hardened now, as what you need instead is lots of ability and to be able to lay up.
“Iroko was fourth last year and is 5lb higher this year. I think he is a better horse this year, although he has run in small field conditions races which are quite difficult to assess. On the weights, he probably shouldn’t be favourite ahead of I Am Maximus but weights are not everything.
“Another two interesting horses are Twig and Mr Vango, who were first and second respectively in the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences earlier this season, when they finished clear of the field. Twig is a likeable horse but probably just lacks a gear in a high-class Grand National and Mr Vango needs to bounce back from a bad run at Sandown Park last time, having previously looked progressive.”
THE 2026 RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL
4.00pm, Aintree, Saturday 11th April 2026
1 I Am Maximus (FR) 10 11 12 168 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
2 Banbridge (IRE) 10 11 11 167 Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland
3 Nick Rockett (IRE) 9 11 11 167 Stewart & Sadie Andrew W. P. Mullins Ireland
4 Gerri Colombe (FR) 10 11 10 166 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
5 Grangeclare West (IRE) 10 11 10 166 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
6 Grey Dawning (IRE) 9 11 10 166 Mr Robert Kirkland Dan Skelton
7 Haiti Couleurs (FR) 9 11 10 166 Conyers, McDermott and Prowting Rebecca Curtis
8 L'homme Presse (FR) 11 11 8 164 Dfa Racing (Pink, Edwards & Sharman) Venetia Williams
9 Spillane's Tower (IRE) 8 11 8 164 Mr John P. McManus James Joseph Mangan Ireland
10 Impaire Et Passe (FR) 8 11 5 161 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
11 Appreciate It (IRE) 12 11 4 160 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland
12 Firefox (IRE) 8 11 4 160 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
13 Gentlemansgame (GB) 10 11 3 159 Robcour M. F. Morris Ireland
14 Monty's Star (IRE) 9 11 3 159 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland
15 Spanish Harlem (FR) 8 11 3 159 Dr S. P. Fitzgerald W. P. Mullins Ireland
16 Lecky Watson (IRE) 8 11 2 158 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
17 Champ Kiely (IRE) 10 11 1 157 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland
18 Favori de Champdou (FR) 11 11 1 157 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
19 Flooring Porter (IRE) 11 11 1 157 Flooring Porter Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland
20 Iroko (FR) 8 11 1 157 Mr John P. McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
21 Western Fold (IRE) 7 11 1 157 Weld-Spec (Glasgow) Ltd/Dee L'Estrange Gordon Elliott Ireland
22 Three Card Brag (IRE) 9 11 0 156 McNeill Family/Patrick & Scott Bryceland Gordon Elliott Ireland
23 Handstands (IRE) 7 10 13 155 Mr T. P. Radford Ben Pauling
24 Oscars Brother (IRE) 8 10 13 155 Mr John P. McManus Connor King Ireland
25 Mr Vango (IRE) 10 10 12 154 Cracker and Smodge Partnership Sara Bradstock
26 Beauport (IRE) 10 10 11 153 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
27 Better Days Ahead (IRE) 8 10 11 153 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
28 High Class Hero (GB) 9 10 11 153 Sullivan Group Ltd/P. Crowley/N. Hughes W. P. Mullins Ireland
29 Ile Atlantique (FR) 8 10 11 153 Tony Bloom W. P. Mullins Ireland
30 Resplendent Grey (IRE) 8 10 11 153 Mrs R. J. Skan Olly Murphy
31 Stellar Story (IRE) 9 10 11 153 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
32 Captain Cody (IRE) 8 10 10 152 V Caldwell/A Shamoon/Mrs A Shamoon Ibgi W. P. Mullins Ireland
33 French Dynamite (FR) 11 10 10 152 Mr Shane Carmody Eric McNamara Ireland
34 Jagwar (FR) 7 10 10 152 Mr John P. McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
35 Gorgeous Tom (IRE) 8 10 9 151 Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd Henry de Bromhead Ireland
36 Perceval Legallois (FR) 9 10 9 151 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland
37 Quai de Bourbon (FR) 7 10 9 151 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
38 The Real Whacker (IRE) 10 10 9 151 Neville, Mann, Duffus & Dennis-Price Patrick Neville
39 Answer To Kayf (GB) 10 10 8 150 Mr Denis A. O'Connor Terence O'Brien Ireland
40 Croke Park (IRE) 8 10 8 150 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
41 Jordans (FR) 7 10 8 150 Cheeky Pups Syndicate Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland
42 Blizzard of Oz (IRE) 8 10 7 149 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
43 Now Is The Hour (IRE) 9 10 7 149 BDS Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland
44 Intense Raffles (FR) 8 10 6 148 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede T. Gibney Ireland
45 Final Orders (GB) 10 10 5 147 C. M. D. Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland
46 Marble Sands (FR) 10 10 5 147 DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson David Killahena & Graeme McPherson
47 Panic Attack (IRE) 10 10 5 147 Bryan Drew Dan Skelton
48 Top Of The Bill (IRE) 10 10 5 147 Mr Charlie Walker Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
49 Blaze The Way (IRE) 8 10 4 146 M.Willis/P.Willis/B.Groarke/T.Groarke Ms Margaret Mullins Ireland
50 Johnnywho (IRE) 9 10 4 146 Mr John P. McManus Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill
51 Leave of Absence (FR) 9 10 4 146 Mr Richard & Mrs Carol Cheshire Anthony Honeyball
52 Twig (GB) 11 10 4 146 Mrs G. Morgan Ben Pauling
53 Pied Piper (GB) 8 10 3 145 Mrs M. Roden & Mrs R. Nolan Gordon Elliott Ireland
54 Search For Glory (IRE) 9 10 3 145 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
55 Stolen Silver (FR) 11 10 3 145 Ms Georgina Nicholls Georgina Nicholls
56 Ain't That A Shame (IRE) 12 10 2 144 Eventmasters Racing Tom Ellis
57 Amirite (IRE) 10 10 2 144 Patrick Hale Henry de Bromhead Ireland
58 Imperial Saint (FR) 8 10 2 144 Richard Johnson Racing Imperial Saint Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
59 Harry des Ongrais (FR) 9 10 1 143 K Haughey/Laura Haughey/Kieran T Byrne Henry de Bromhead Ireland
60 Hyland (FR) 9 10 1 143 The Ten From Seven Nicky Henderson
61 Soul Icon (GB) 9 10 1 143 Pugs, and Mayhem Keiran Burke
62 Yeah Man (IRE) 9 10 1 143 Mr J. J. Brennan Gavin Cromwell Ireland
63 Myretown (IRE) 9 10 0 142 Wymer & Russell Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
64 Deep Cave (IRE) 8 9 13 141 Sue Howell Christian Williams
65 Monbeg Genius (IRE) 10 9 13 141 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill
66 O'Moore Park (IRE) 9 9 13 141 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
67 Pic Roc (IRE) 8 9 13 141 Mrs Emma Kendall Ben Pauling
68 Buddy One (IRE) 9 9 12 140 E. Lynch/T.C.Quinn/John J. McGrath Paul John Gilligan Ireland
69 Mister Coffey (FR) 11 9 12 140 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson
70 Anyway (GER) 8 9 11 139 K. Haughey/Kieran T. Byrne David Kenneth Budds Ireland
71 The Short Go (IRE) 9 9 10 138 Mr N. Byrne Henry de Bromhead Ireland
72 Shanbally Kid (IRE) 9 9 9 137 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
73 Weveallbeencaught (IRE) 9 9 9 137 Tadhg Moynihan Eric McNamara Ireland
74 Will Do (IRE) 9 9 9 137 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
75 In d'Or (FR) 8 9 7 135 Mrs J. May Fergal O'Brien
76 Deafening Silence (IRE) 9 9 6 134 My Racing Manager Friends Dan Skelton
76 entries go forward
48 Irish trained
NOT QUALIFIED
Beaufort Scale (IRE)
SCRATCHED
Paggane (GB)
RACE CONDITIONS
Total prize fund £1,000,000 with £500,000 to the winning horse.
The second to receive £200,000, the third £100,000, the fourth £65,000, the fifth £40,000, the sixth £30,000, the seventh £20,000, the eighth £15,000, the ninth £10,000 and the tenth £5,000.
For seven years old and upwards, which, prior to March 24th, have started in a minimum of six steeple chases run under the Rules of Racing of a Recognised Turf Authority, at least one of which must have been during the current season.
In addition, prior to March 24th, horses must have been placed first, second, third or fourth in a steeple chase with an official distance description of 'two miles seven and a half furlongs' or more, at any time during the horse's career.
Horses must be also allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Handicapper following a
review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 15th.
Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered.
Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including February 15th would merit a minimum rating of 130.
FOUR MILES ABOUT TWO AND A HALF FURLONGS (4m 2f 74yds) (Over the Grand National Course)
Enter by noon, February 3rd
Scratch by noon on March 3rd
Scratch by noon on March 24th
Confirm by noon on April 6th
Declare by 10.00 a.m. April 8th
Weights published on February 17th
Lowest weight.........10st 2lb; Highest weight…11st 12lb (No penalties after publication of the weights).
To be ridden by Jockeys or Amateur Riders who, before April 9th, 2026, have ridden not less than 15 winners in steeple chases or hurdle races under the Rules of Racing and/or the Rules of the Irish National Hunt Steeple Chase Committee and ridden not less than 10 of these winners in steeple chases.
72 HOUR DECLARATIONS APPLY TO THIS RACE
