The Grand National has a funny habit of making favourites look a bit silly. It is the race where 34 horses line up, 30 fences loom, and your “banker” can be going great one minute and pulling up the next.
Historically, plenty of Grand National favourites and short-priced horses have been beaten, and big outsiders pop up almost every year, which is half the fun for casual fans.
That said, the market is not guessing. The horses at the head of the betting are usually there for good reasons: strong recent form, top trainers, big‑race experience, or simply a name and colours people recognise and want to be with.
In 2024, I Am Maximus actually won the Grand National as one of the leading fancies, then came back and finished second in 2025, so the favourite (or near‑favourite) can absolutely get the job done.
Grand National favourites are never a sure thing in this race, but if you’re just having a small bet, starting with the top of the market at least means you’re siding with horses who tick a lot of boxes.
I Am Maximus – The Returning Hero
If you only know one name in this year’s race, it’s probably I Am Maximus. He’s already a Grand National winner, having bolted up in 2024, and then came back twelve months later to finish a very game second in 2025.
Not many horses even try to win this race more than once; fewer still manage to run this well in back‑to‑back years under the massive weight the handicapper gives them.
He’s trained by Willie Mullins, the Irish superstar who seems to win just about everything these days, and he’ll again carry the famous green‑and‑gold hoops of owner JP McManus that even once‑a‑year punters tend to spot straight away.
Top jockey Paul Townend, who steered him to those 2024 and 2025 successes, is set to be back on board, which adds another layer of reassurance for those drawn to the familiar partnership.
Before he ever came to Aintree, I Am Maximus had already shown his stamina by winning the Irish Grand National in 2023, so this marathon trip is exactly his thing.
Why is he favourite again? Simple: proven course form and big‑race temperament. He’s shown he loves these unique fences, stays the long distance, and handles the pressure of the day, all while lumping a hefty weight on his back.
The question this year is whether, as a ten‑year‑old shouldering top weight again, he can summon one more huge effort, but if you like a reassuring profile, he is absolutely the “comfort blanket” horse in the field.
Panic Attack – The Tough, Classy Mare
With a name like Panic Attack, you could be forgiven for thinking this mare might give you one mid‑race, but her recent form has actually been very soothing for anyone backing her.
She’s turned into one of the most reliable chasers around, climbing the ranks by winning good handicaps and then stepping up into stronger company without fuss.
Trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by his brother Harry, she comes from a yard that knows how to get one spot‑on for the big Saturdays.
Her calling card this season has been a string of impressive wins, including valuable races like the November Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury – a high‑class handicap double that very few horses, and no mare before her, had managed.
Those races are shorter than the Grand National, but they tell us plenty: she travels well, jumps accurately, and keeps finding more at the end, which is exactly what you want when the race gets serious after the last fence at Aintree.
She also sneaks in with a nice racing weight compared to some of the bigger names, which gives her a bit of a helping hand over this extended trip.
As a talented mare, she’ll appeal to people who like a slightly different angle and the idea of cheering home the only girl in amongst a lot of big old boys.
Grangeclare West – Mullins’ Other Big Player
If you’re the type who backs “anything Willie Mullins runs”, Grangeclare West will already be on your shortlist.
He is another high‑class chaser from the Closutton production line, and he quietly put together a very solid profile before announcing himself firmly as a National type last year. He has been a winner over hurdles, in bumpers and over fences, showing he’s got both ability and versatility.
The big line on his CV for this race is that he finished third in the 2025 Grand National, staying on strongly up the long Aintree run‑in.
That tells us he handles the track, the fences, and the chaos, which is half the battle in this race. He also has Grade‑level form in Ireland, including a good run in a strong Irish chase last season, so he’s not just a “stayer”; he’s been mixing it in proper company.
This year, he lines up again at ten years old, back for another crack with experience on his side and a weight that’s high but not quite as punishing as his stablemate I Am Maximus.
He’ll be ridden by Patrick Mullins, the trainer’s son, who knows him inside out and is very good at keeping a cool head in big fields.
For plenty of punters, Grangeclare West will be the “solid each‑way” choice – still a big chance of winning, but maybe an even better bet just to be in the frame again.
Jagwar – The Improver In Gold and Green Hoops
Jagwar might be less familiar to some of you, but his owner’s colours definitely are not.
He also runs in the green‑and‑gold hoops of JP McManus, which means when the tapes go up, there will be more than one of those sets of silks charging to the first fence.
Trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero and ridden by top Irish jockey Mark Walsh, Jagwar has made a name for himself as a young chaser firmly on the upgrade.
He’s only seven, which is on the younger side for a Grand National runner, but his record suggests he’s catching up quickly in experience.
He’s won a healthy share of his races, including good contests over staying trips, and has mixed it with smart horses at major meetings without looking out of place.
His current season stats show a strong strike‑rate and plenty of placed efforts, which usually points to a horse with the right blend of talent and attitude.
What makes him interesting here is that he comes in off a relatively low Grand National weight compared to the older stars, giving him less to carry over the marathon distance.
For punters who like the idea of backing “the up‑and‑coming one” rather than the established names, Jagwar is exactly that – maybe not as well known yet, but with the right owner, the right rider, and the profile of a horse who could take a big step forward on the day.
So, Who Should You Back?
If you just want the comfort of a familiar face, I Am Maximus is the obvious place to start: proven over the course, trained by a superstar, and wearing colours you can spot from the sofa.
If you like a strong story, Panic Attack, as the tough, in‑form mare at a nice weight, is very easy to root for.
Grangeclare West looks the sensible, no‑nonsense option for each‑way players after last year’s third, while Jagwar is the younger improver who could surprise a few if he keeps progressing.
Whichever way you go, remember this is the Grand National: anything can and usually does happen, which is what keeps us all coming back every April.
Pick a horse you like the look of, have a modest stake, and enjoy the spectacle – shouting at the TV is optional, but strongly recommended!
BETFRED
