16:00 Aintree
Saturday 11 April 2026
All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0516:0017:00
Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
- 7YO plus  |  Class 1  |  4m 2f 74y  |  37 Runners  |  Turf
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
SKY BET EXTRA PLACE RACESky Bet paying 7 places instead of 4
2024 Grand National hero who made a bold bid to became just the second back-to-back winner in the last 50 years, going down only to stablemate Nick Rockett. Has shown enough in Grade 1s this winter to think he's still as good as ever. Bold bid likely in refitted cheekpieces (wore once in 2022).
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Classy chaser who returned to form in a first-time visor when failing by a whisker to retain his King George crown at Kempton on Boxing Day. The headgear didn't have the same impact when only 12 lengths third in the Ryanair at Cheltenham since. Stamina far from assured.
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High-class chaser who was third to stablemates Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus 12 months ago. Deservedly got his head back in front when seeing off Gerri Colombe in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse 7 weeks ago but he's 3 lb higher than last year and Townend looks elsewhere again.
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Dual Grade 1 winner at this meeting but lightly raced in recent years and hard to be sure he's the force of old. Took step back in right direction when second to Grangeclare West in Bobbyjo before making the most of a good opportunity at Down Royal. The mount of Jack Kennedy from the Elliott team.
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Bidding for a unique National hat-trick having won the Irish and Welsh versions in the last 12 months. Being pulled up in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham was hardly the ideal prep but he appeals as one who could take well to these fences. Bidding to become the first Welsh-trained winner since 1905.
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Smart chaser who landed the odds in a 19.5f Down Royal Grade 2 on his reappearance. Very good fourth when stepped up to 3m for the Irish Gold Cup in February but 3¼m seemed to tax his stamina in the Cheltenham Gold Cup since.
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Just a maiden win to his name over fences but he has been campaigned almost exclusively at Grade 1 level since. Better than the result when 25½ lengths sixth of 12 to Fact To File in Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown latest, making effort earlier than ideal. Good jumper who could take to this course.
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Won the Kerry National at Listowel in September and looked set to add the Thyestes at Gowran (25f, heavy) in January only to unseat at the last. Shaped as if amiss when pulled up in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse since, though.
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Grade 1 novice chase winner last season but has had a disappointing second campaign over fences, finishing tailed off in the Bobbyjo last time. Leap of faith required.
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Caused an upset when recording a first Grade 1 success over fences at Punchestown last spring. Ran at least as well giving weight away when close second in 2m Naas Grade 3 on reappearance in November but hasn't reproduced that on both completed starts since. Stamina a big worry.
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Shaped very well from a long way back when fourth in this race 12 months ago. His defeat of Firefox in an Ascot graduation event in December shows he's as good as ever but he had a disappointing prep for this (didn't jump well) when only midfield in the Ultima at Cheltenham.
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Now in the veteran stage but never been better, running out the 66/1 winner of 28-runner Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas before following up on the cross-country course at Cheltenham in January. Good 2¼ lengths second of 14 to Final Orders at the Festival there since. Chance.
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Improved performer this season, building on his second to Spanish Harlem in Kerry National with a win at Cheltenham. Excellent second in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November and might have needed his first outing since when well behind Grangeclare West in Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse. Eleventh last year.
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Has progressed into a smart novice chaser, winning 3m Grade 2s in the mud at Punchestown and Naas this winter. Good 5½ lengths fourth of 14 to Kitzbuhel in Brown Advisory at Cheltenham (25f, good) 31 days ago, doing his best work at the finish. Makes handicap debut in the biggest one of them all.
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Won all 3 starts last season, culminating in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. Excellent short-head second to Twig in the Becher here on reappearance but has pulled up on both starts since. All his best efforts on soft/heavy and easy to look elsewhere unless significant rain arrives.
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Developed into a smart chaser last season. Shaped encouragingly after 7 months off when runner-up in 21f Punchestown handicap in November but pulled up in the Thyestes and Leinster National since. Something to prove.
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Won Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in 2024. His chase career has been a bit up and down but he reacted well to a new headgear combination when 14½ lengths third of 9 to Grangeclare West in Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse (3¼m, heavy) 7 weeks ago. This is his first start in a handicap and he'll stay.
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Smart hurdler/chaser who was better than the result when twelfth in this race 12 months ago, weakening from the home turn having raced close to the pace. Not at best over hurdles in recent starts (had breathing operation prior to latest) and tongue tied first time back chasing.
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Landed Scottish Grand National last season. Promising third in Drinmore at Fairyhouse on return but hasn't really built on that since, finishing well behind a few of these in the Bobbyjo. The stable has more obvious contenders.
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Very progressive since switched to fences, including win in the Plate at 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Survived an early blunder to finish excellent ½-length second of 22 to Johnnywho in Ultima (25f) at this year's Festival. Has first-time cheekpieces added to his usual tongue tie. On a good mark.
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Came of age last season with valuable handicap chase and hurdle wins around 3m at Leopardstown. Fell at first Valentines' in this 12 months ago but it looks like he's had his campaign geared around another tilt, hinting at a revival when fourth at Tramore on New Year's Day. Player under Cobden.
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Shaped well when fourth of 24 in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3¼m, good to soft) in November. Not seen again until 6 lengths fifth of 16 in a 21f listed handicap at Leopardstown last month, his absence seeming to tell late on. Live outsider for a yard which has tasted recent success in this.
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Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham Festival as a novice chaser. Added the Charlie Hall at Wetherby last season but has largely found life tough since, including over hurdles last time. His claims aren't obvious.
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Ended his first season over fences with a good third to Haiti Couleurs in Irish Grand National. Pulled up in Troytown and Thyestes on first 2 outings back but fared much better with cheekpieces added (retained) when 3 lengths third of 16 in listed handicap at Leopardstown (21.5f, soft) 40 days ago.
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Again flourished in the mud when landing 19-runner Troytown at Navan in November. Creditable 16 lengths fourth of 9 to Grangeclare West in Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse (3¼m, heavy) 49 days ago. Significantly up in trip.
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Second in a 25f Grade 1 novice at this meeting last year but has yet to fire this season. Others are much more obvious.
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Has taken really well to cross-country chasing, scoring twice at Cheltenham this season, latterly seeing off Favori de Champdou in the Glenfarclas at the Festival. Not certain to be suited by this longer distance and took a crashing fall on his only other go over these fences.
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Very useful chaser who was fit from the Flat and better than ever when landing 10-runner handicap at Cheltenham (27f) in November. Respectable second in 4-runner Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby over Christmas. Kept fresh for this since. Got round in the Topham last year but wasn't at his best.
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Has won 4 of her 5 chases since joining Dan Skelton, including becoming just the fourth to complete the prestigious handicap double of the Paddy Power and Coral Gold Cups. Creditable third in the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham last month but Nickel Coin in 1951 was the last mare to win this.
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Has proved temperamental on occasions but hasn't done much wrong this season, winning at Haydock in November and second in the Grand National Trial over 3½m there 8 weeks ago. Should have the stamina for this test but others look better handicapped.
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Several good efforts in top handicap chases, returning from a breathing operation to fend off the reopposing Jagwar in the Ultima at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) last month. Cheekpieces worn on that occasion are retained. Already has experience of these fences and has plenty going for him.
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Veteran but as good as ever when winning his first 2 starts this season, latterly edging out Mr Vango in the Becher over these fences. Warmed up for this with a respectable effort over hurdles last month but he was only tenth off the same mark in last year's National.
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Won 3 times over fences at Aintree last term and back to best when narrow winner of Peter Marsh at Haydock under Callum Pritchard. Can have a line put through his subsequent run in the Ultima at Cheltenham having been badly hampered and he's not without a chance.
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In good form last summer, ending a losing run in 25f handicap chase at Kilbeggan before a good fourth of 22 in Galway Plate. However, tailed off on the cross-country course at Cheltenham in December and pulled up over hurdles at Thurles last month. Hard to fancy.
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Non-Runners
2
Nick Rockett25
Weight: 11-11|Â Â Age: 9
T: W P Mullins  J: Non Runner
NR
7
Spillane's Tower2
Weight: 11-8|Â Â Age: 8
T: J J Mangan  J: Non Runner
NR
35
Pied Piper31
Weight: 10-3|Â Â Age: 8
T: G Elliott  J: Non Runner
NR
Forecasts
I Am Maximus (13/2), Panic Attack (7/1), Grangeclare West (8/1), Jagwar (8/1), Iroko (10/1), Johnnywho (10/1), Captain Cody (12/1), Monty's Star (12/1), Oscars Brother (14/1), Nick Rockett (14/1), Haiti Couleurs (14/1), Gorgeous Tom (20/1), Quai De Bourbon (20/1), Gerri Colombe (20/1), Final Orders (20/1), Favori De Champdou (25/1), Lecky Watson (25/1), Spillane's Tower (25/1), Stellar Story (25/1), Perceval Legallois (25/1), Champ Kiely (25/1), Spanish Harlem (25/1), Jordans (25/1), Twig (33/1), Banbridge (33/1), Three Card Brag (33/1), Answer To Kayf (33/1), Imperial Saint (33/1), High Class Hero (33/1), The Real Whacker (50/1), Pied Piper (50/1), Firefox (50/1), Top Of The Bill (50/1), Mr Vango (50/1), Marble Sands (66/1), Beauport (66/1), Amirite (66/1)
Willie Mullins saddled an unprecedented 1-2-3 in this 12 months ago and it's possible J P McManus could repeat the feat as an owner, so strong is his hand this year. JOHNNYWHO and Jagwar are both ahead of their marks after finishing 1-2 in the Ultima at Cheltenham and can lead home 2024 winner I Am Maximus. Perceval Legallois is yet another likely type in the famous green and gold silks, while, at bigger odds, Gorgeous Tom and Favori de Champdou also have plenty to recommend them.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £500,000.002nd: £200,000.003rd: £100,000.004th: £65,000.005th: £40,000.006th: £30,000.007th: £20,000.008th: £15,000.009th: £10,000.0010th: £5,000.00
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