Three horses in the initial 34-runner field for the 2026 Grand National today have withdrawn and been replaced. Last year’s winner, Nick Rockett, is among those who have been pulled from this year’s edition of the iconic race at Aintree Racecourse. The reigning champion has been declared a non-runner due to coughing. Willie Mullins enjoyed back-to-back Grand National wins thanks to Nick Rockett’s 2025 triumph when he was ridden by his son Patrick.

The 36-year-old jockey said earlier this week: “It is 72-hour declarations for the Grand National, and we wanted to give him every chance, but he gave a few coughs this morning and that made up our mind with him. It is frustrating, but it was a case of everything needed to go right to get him here and, unfortunately, we just didn’t get everything go right. He could have run, but we didn’t want to do that if he wasn’t 110 per cent. You need to be 110 per cent to run in a race like the Grand National and, unfortunately, he is not at the moment.”

Nick Rockett was initially replaced by Pied Piper. But Gordon Elliott’s first reserve has also since withdrawn due to mobility issues. Elliott said to ITV Racing: “He is going to miss the race. We left the yard yesterday morning and rolled out and everything was sound, 100 per cent.

“He was a bit tight yesterday evening and he’s just not right this morning, he’s lame behind, so obviously horses come first and foremost. He’s at home. Very unfortunate for the owners, staff and everyone involved.”

As a result of Pied Piper’s absence, Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s Imperial Saint steps in as the second reserve. He won the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park in January.

The third and final stand-in is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Amirite. The 10-year-old takes the place of Spillane’s Tower, who instead opted to run in Thursday’s Grade 1 Aintree Bowl.

Any horses declared non-runners between now and the 4pm start will not be replaced. Instead, the field size will simply reduce from 34. This is the first time since 1984 that the Grand National will start with less than 40 horses. The move was made to create more space for the horses to jump the 30 fences safely.

Nick Rockett’s stablemate I Am Maximus is the favourite for this year’s race. While our tipster Melissa Jones, also known as The Scout, likes the look of a horse currently priced at 25/1.

Grand National 2026 entries and weights for Aintree

Final 34 runners for the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Class 1) (4m2f74y) at Aintree Racecourse (4pm)

No, (form), HORSE (BRED), age, owner, trainer, jockey

1 (982-925) I AM MAXIMUS (FR) 9-11-12 JP McManus Willie Mullins (IRE) Paul Townend

3 (7-4423) BANBRIDGE (IRE) 10-11-11 Mr RA Bartlett Joseph O’Brien (IRE) JJ Slevin

4 (5-8481) GRANGECLARE WEST (IRE) 10-11-10 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins (IRE) Patrick Mullins

5 (3-P3121) GERRI COLOMBE (FR) 10-11-10 Robcour Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jack Kennedy

6 (-1P11P) HAITI COULEURS (FR) 9-11-10 Conyers, McDermott and Prowting Rebecca Curtis Sean Bowen

8 (2-1246) FIREFOX (IRE) 8-11-4 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) Keith Donoghue

9 (4-3956) MONTY’S STAR (IRE) 9-11-3 Mr Barry Maloney Henry De Bromhead (IRE) Darragh O’Keeffe

10 (-11PUP) SPANISH HARLEM (FR) 8-11-3 Dr SP Fitzgerald Willie Mullins (IRE) Brian Hayes

11 (-F77P8) LECKY WATSON (IRE) 8-11-2 Slaneyville Syndicate Willie Mullins (IRE) Sean O’Keeffe

12 (-12S57) CHAMP KIELY (IRE) 10-11-1 Miss MA Masterson Willie Mullins (IRE) Danny Mullins

13 (24-210) IROKO (FR) 8-11-1 JP McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jonjo O’Neill Jnr

14 (05F112) FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU (FR) 11-11-1 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) Danny Gilligan

15 (-82127) THREE CARD BRAG (IRE) 9-11-0 McNeill Family/Patrick & Scott Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jordan Gainford

16 (221114) OSCARS BROTHER (IRE) 8-10-13 JP McManus Conor King (IRE) Daniel King

17 (11-2PP) MR VANGO (IRE) 10-10-12 Cracker and Smodge Partnership Sara Bradstock Jack Tudor

18 (23-2PP) HIGH CLASS HERO 9-10-11 Sullivan Group Ltd/P Crowley/N Hughes Willie Mullins (IRE) James Bowen

19 (2-3383) STELLAR STORY (IRE) 12-10-11 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) Robert Dunne

20 (20-4P4) BEAUPORT (IRE) 10-10-11 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies

21 (1-37F5) CAPTAIN CODY (IRE) 10-10-10 V Caldwell/A Shamoon/Mrs A Shamoon Ibgi Willie Mullins (IRE) Jonathan Burke

22 (11-322) JAGWAR (FR) 7-10-10 JP McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Mark Walsh

23 (11F-P4) PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS (FR) 9-10-9 JP McManus Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Harry Cobden

24 (4-4245) GORGEOUS TOM (IRE) 8-10-9 Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd Henry De Bromhead (IRE) Sean Flanagan

25 (54-256) THE REAL WHACKER (IRE) 10-10-9 Neville, Mann, Duffus & Dennis-Price Phil Neville Gavin Sheehan

26 (B3-PP3) QUAI DE BOURBON (FR) 7-10-9 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins (IRE) Donagh Meyler

27 (0-6144) ANSWER TO KAYF 10-10-8 Mr Denis A O’Connor Terence O’Brien (IRE) John Shinnick

28 (2-85P0) JORDANS (FR) 7-10-8 Cheeky Pups Syndicate Joseph O’Brien (IRE) Ben Jones

29 (61151) FINAL ORDERS (IRE) 10-10-5 CMD Syndicate Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Conor Stone-Walsh

30 (250-12) MARBLE SANDS (FR) 9-10-5 DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson David Killahena & Graeme McPherson Kielan Woods

31 (2-1113) PANIC ATTACK (IRE) 10-10-5 Bryan Drew Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

32 (P1-192) TOP OF THE BILL (IRE) 10-10-5 Mr Charlie Walker Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies Toby McCain-Mitchell

33 (5-5351) JOHNNYWHO (IRE) 9-10-4 JP McManus Jonjo & AJ O’Neill (BF) Richie McLernon

34 (70-117) TWIG 11-10-4 Mrs G Morgan Ben Pauling Beau Morgan