The biggest day in British horse racing is finally here. The 2026 Grand National gets underway at Aintree Racecourse this afternoon, with 34 runners bidding for glory over the famous four-mile, two-furlong course and its thirty legendary fences. This year’s race carries extra storylines: a mare chasing history, a former winner seeking redemption, and a racing public gripped by one of the most open renewals in years.
Panic Attack: Can She Make History?
The story of the day is undoubtedly Panic Attack, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend. Having drifted on the ante-post markets earlier in the week, the mare surged to favouritism on race morning as money flooded in from those who believe she could become the first mare to win the Grand National in 75 years. The last female horse to take the famous race was Nickel Coin back in 1951 — a landmark that has eluded every mare who has attempted it since.
Panic Attack’s form is rock-solid. She has been building towards this moment all season, and connections are quietly confident that Aintree’s unique demands — a test of jumping, stamina and temperament as much as outright speed — suit her profile perfectly. At around 7-1 going into the race, she represents both genuine value and a piece of potential history.
I Am Maximus: The Horse to Beat
No conversation about this year’s National is complete without I Am Maximus, the horse that won the race two years ago before finishing second to stablemate Nick Rockett twelve months ago. Trained by Willie Mullins — who dominates this race like no one before him — I Am Maximus enters as the long-standing ante-post market leader and is firmly in the reckoning.
His experience at Aintree is unmatched in this field. He knows how to handle the unique rhythm of the course, the peculiarities of the fences, and the noise and spectacle of race day. He carries that knowledge into today, and under a capable jockey, he could absolutely confirm himself among the all-time National greats with a second victory.
The Full Field
Thirty-four runners go to post this afternoon, making for an extraordinary spectacle. Among the notable contenders are course specialists and well-credentialled novices alike. The Grand National has a long tradition of rewarding horses that handle the unique demands of Aintree rather than those who are simply the most talented on conventional tracks — which makes form assessment genuinely difficult, and part of what makes the race so compelling.
Notable rivals include several Dan Skelton-trained horses, whose yard has enjoyed an exceptional season, as well as challengers from Ireland, where the national hunt scene continues to produce the world’s leading chasers. Mullins’s dominance of the staying chase division has been a theme of the entire campaign, and his multi-runner strategy gives him multiple routes to victory.
How to Watch and When It Starts
The Grand National is set to go off at 4:00 PM BST at Aintree Racecourse. It is broadcast live on ITV and ITV X in the UK, with coverage beginning earlier in the afternoon to include the supporting card. If you are watching from outside the UK, the race is available via various international broadcast partners.
The Randox Grand National is part of a three-day festival, with Thursday and Friday also featuring top-class racing. But Saturday’s main event is the centrepiece — the race that draws in millions of viewers who rarely watch horse racing at any other point of the year.
The History and Magic of the National
There is no other race quite like the Grand National. Its fences — Becher’s Brook, The Chair, Canal Turn — are part of British sporting folklore. The unpredictability is part of its appeal: favourites are toppled, long shots triumph, and the narrative of a four-mile race can change in an instant.
This year’s renewal promises all the drama you could want. A mare chasing history, a previous winner seeking glory again, and a field full of genuine contenders. Whatever happens this afternoon at Aintree, the 2026 Grand National promises to be remembered for years to come.