What time does the Grand National start today? How to watch iconic race on TV

The Grand National is the highlight of the racing calendar (Picture: Getty)

All eyes will be on the Grand National today with the 178th running of the iconic steeplechase taking place at Aintree.

There will be no repeat of last year’s result, however, with the 2025 winner Nick Rockett dramatically declared a non-runner on Thursday morning after being found with a cough.

But despite the blow to trainer Willie Mullins, who completed a 1-2-3 in the race 12 months ago, the legendary Irish trainer still dominates the field with eight horses taking to the start line for the three-time winner.

Here is your complete guide to the Grand National 2026, including what time it starts, what TV channel viewers can watch it on and those all-important odds.

Guide overview

• Start time
• How to watch on TV
• Runners and riders
• Race distance and fences
• Odds
• Prize money

Start time

The Grand National will start at 4pm today.

The three-day Grand National meeting got underway on Thursday, with Ladies Day taking place on Friday.

How to watch on TV

The race, as well as the entire festival, is being shown live on ITV1 and Racing TV.

Viewers will also be able to live stream the action on ITVX.

Runners and riders

A total of 34 horses will compete in Saturday’s showdown.

Last year’s winning jockey, Patrick Mullins, has switched to the 2025 third-placed horse, Grangeclare West, whilst Paul Townend will once again be in the saddle of I Am Maximus.

The size of the Grand National field was reduced from 40 to 34 runners in 2024 in an attempt to improve horse safety by reducing congestion at fences.

Grand National entry list

1. I Am Maximus Jockey: Paul Townend Trainer: Willie Mullins

2. Imperial Saint Jockey: Callum Pritchard Trainer: Philip Hobbs and Johnson White

3. Banbridge Jockey: JJ Slevin Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

4. Grangeclare West Jockey: Patrick Mullins Trainer: Willie Mullins

5. Gerri Colombe Jockey: Jack Kennedy Trainer: Gordon Elliott

6. Haiti Couleurs Jockey: Sean Bowen Trainer: Rebecca Curtis

7. Amirite Jockey: Phillip Enright Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

8. Firefox Jockey: Keith Donoghue Trainer: Gordon Elliott

9. Monty’s Star Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

10. Spanish Harlem Jockey: Brian Hayes Trainer: Willie Mullins

11. Lecky Watson Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe Trainer: Willie Mullins

12. Champ Kiely Jockey: Danny Mullins Trainer: Willie Mullins

13. Iroko Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr Trainer: Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero

14. Favori de Champdou Jockey: Danny Gillgan Trainer: Gordon Elliott

15. Three Card Brag Jockey: Jordan Gainford Trainer: Gordon Elliott

16. Oscars Brother Jockey: Daniel King Trainer: Connor King

17. Mr Vango Jockey: Jack Tudor Trainer: Sara Bradstock

18. High Class Hero Jockey: James Bowen Trainer: Willie Mullins

19. Stellar Story Jockey: Robbie Dunne Trainer: Gordon Elliott

20. Beauport Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Trainer: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies

21. Captain Cody Jockey: Jonathan Burke Trainer: Willie Mullins

22. Jagwar Jockey: Mark Walsh Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

23. Perceval Legallois Jockey: Harry Cobden Trainer: Gavin Cromwell

24. Gorgeous Tom Jockey: Sean Flanagan Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

25. The Real Whacker Jockey: Gavin Sheehan Trainer: Patrick Neville

26. Quai de Bourbon Jockey: Donagh Meyler Trainer: Willie Mullins

27. Answer To Kayf Jockey: John Shinnick Trainer: Terence O’Brien

28. Jordans Jockey: Ben Jones Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

29. Final Orders Jockey: Conor Stone-Walsh Trainer: Gavin Cromwell

30. Marble Sands Jockey: Kielan Woods Trainer: David Killahena and Graeme McPherson

31. Panic Attack Jockey: Harry Skelton Trainer: Dan Skelton

32. Top Of The Bill Jockey: Toby McCain-Mitchell Trainer: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies

33. Johnnywho Jockey: Richie McLernon Trainer: Jonjo and AJ O’Neill

34. Twig Jockey: Beau Morgan Trainer: Ben Pauling

Race distance and number of fences

The race will be held over two laps of the Aintree course, giving a total race distance of four miles and two-and-a-half furlongs.

The horses and jockeys must navigate over 30 fences in total; 16 are jumped in the first lap and 14 are jumped in the second.

The runners and riders must make their way around the tricky course (Picture: Getty)

Several changes to the course have been introduced over the years to aid with horse welfare, including reprofiling landing areas, lowering the height of certain fences and softening the structure of others.

The average winning time in the Grand National is 9m 10s. The only horse to complete the famous course in under nine minutes is Mr Frisk, ridden by Marcus Armytage, on firm ground in 1990.

Odds

The 2024 winner, I Am Maximus, is the favourite at 7/1.

The 10-year-old bay gelding tops the list ahead of the likes of Grangeclare West (9/1), Panic Attack (9/1) and Jagwar (10/1).

Grand National odds

• I Am Maximus – 7/1
• Grangeclare West – 9/1
• Panic Attack – 9/1
• Jagwar – 10/1
• Iroko – 11/1
• Haiti Couleurs – 12/1
• Johnnywho – 12/1
• Oscars Brother – 14/1
• Montys Star – 16/1
• Captain Cody – 16/1

For full odds visit Paddy Power

Prize money

A prize pot of £1m will be split between the top ten finishers with the winner taking home £500,000.

Racehorse owners receive around 80% of the money with the remainder shared between trainers, jockeys and stable staff.

Grand National prize money

• 1st – £500,000
• 2nd – £200,000
• 3rd – £100,000
• 4th – £65,000
• 5th – £40,000
• 6th – £30,000
• 7th – £20,000
• 8th – £15,000
• 9th – £10,000
• 10th – £5,000

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