when is the grand national 2026 is the practical question being answered this week as Aintree’s latest forfeit stage produces a weights and entries list that sharpens the picture for the Randox Grand National due on 11 April (ET). Fifty-five horses remain on the list, with a maximum of the 34 top-rated contenders to line up, and a clutch of familiar names and top weights reshaping early betting and training plans.
When Is The Grand National 2026: entries, weights and the Mullins contingent
The published list confirms 55 remaining entries for the Aintree contest set for 11 April (ET), with only the 34 highest-rated to make the final field. The weights reveal a clear hierarchy: I Am Maximus is assigned 11-12 and Nick Rockett 11-11, with Banbridge carrying 11-11 and Grangeclare West 11-10. Those figures underline why connections are weighing both stamina and assigned burden when final acceptances come around.
The Mullins operation stands out numerically: nine horses from the Closutton yard currently sit inside the top 34. That volume of entries from a single yard amplifies pressure on selectors and rivals alike as Aintree approaches.
Deep analysis: what the 55 entries and weight spread mean
Having 55 names at this stage with a cap of 34 starters forces a selection dynamic that turns ratings and weights into strategic levers. The presence of high-weighted performers—illustrated by I Am Maximus at 11-12 and several 11-11 and 11-10 assignments—suggests that past form at the course and recent performances will be scrutinised even more closely by trainers and owners trying to ensure a place in the field.
The list also contains a mix of returning winners and recent performers. I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett are explicitly tied to recent success in the race, and other returning members of the leading yards bring familiarity that can be an advantage when negotiating Aintree’s unique demands. With only 34 spots available, trainers may be forced into hard decisions about which horses to press for a starting berth and which to hold back.
Expert perspectives from the Closutton yard
David Casey, assistant trainer at the Closutton yard, has signalled a level of confidence in the depth of the Mullins team. He listed multiple likely runners by name and indicated the current situation is favourable for those entries. Casey said, “I’m going to say maybe six or seven off the top of my head. Nick Rockett, Grangeclare West, I Am Maximus, Captain Cody will run, High Class Hero is in the mix, Lecky Watson is in the mix, so is Quai De Bourbon, I think he will probably run as well. They’re all guaranteed to get in at the moment. “
On Nick Rockett’s recent comeback, Casey said he was “delighted with the way he finished after the race, ” noting the run offered useful conditioning ahead of Aintree. And reflecting on the recent pattern of top-weighted horses being competitive, Casey emphasised I Am Maximus’s credentials: “Looking at the last couple of years, I think I Am Maximus definitely has to be in the mix. ” That endorsement from an assistant in the Closutton operation reinforces the narrative that experience at Aintree and recent preparation may outweigh nominal weight burdens.
Willie Mullins, identified in the list as the British and Irish champion trainer responsible for several leading entries, has also had recent success in the race, with wins in consecutive editions attributed to I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett as part of his tally.
For punters, trainers and race planners the central, practical question remains the same: when is the grand national 2026 and which of these 55 names will secure one of the 34 coveted starting slots on 11 April (ET)? With weights now published and the Closutton yard well represented, the coming acceptance stages promise tense decisions and shifting form lines—and an intense run-in to Aintree that will test whether top weight remains a barrier or a badge of honour.
