Seven of the last nine renewals of the Grand National have been won by Irish-trained horses. Just like at the Cheltenham Festival, Irish horses have been getting the better of their British rivals in recent years, often ensuring the trophy heads across the Irish Sea.

After the weights were revealed for the latest renewal of the world’s most famous steeplechase, the field looks set to feature more Irish runners than British raiders.

Here is a look at Ireland’s chance of continuing their dominant record in the marathon contest.

Willie Mullins Holds All the Aces In The Race

Champion Trainer (in both Ireland and Britain) Willie Mullins has won the last two runnings of the Grand National. He prevailed in 2025 with I Am Maximus, while in 2026, Nick Rockett ensured the Irishman lifted the trophy again.

I Am Maximus is second best in the horse racing betting at 10/1 to win the 2026 Grand National. He has finished no worse than runner-up in his two appearances in the race so far.

With a mark of 168, the 10-year-old is the highest-rated horse in the field this year, which means he will need to carry top weight of 11st 12lb.

As a course and distance winner, I Am Maximus is likely to be one of the leading horse racing tips for the Aintree feature. He has featured three times this season, with his best appearance so far being his second-place finish in the Grade One Savills Chase behind Affordale Fury.

Mullins will be hoping Nick Rockett can have one run before he bids to repeat what he did in the contest last April. The defending champion has had a couple of setbacks this season, so his preparation for Aintree has been far from ideal.

However, after the way he relished the bigger fences in Liverpool last year, Mullins will be confident of another big run.

Captain Cody is set to join his stablemates at Aintree in the 4m2f race. He showcased his stamina last year when winning the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Six horses have won both the English and Scottish Grand Nationals, and Mullins’ runner will be vying to join the likes of Red Rum and Earth Summit on that list.

Henry De Bromhead Hoping Monty Can Prove to Be a Star

Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead won the Grand National in 2021 with Minella Times. The Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer has made five entries this year, and his best chance comes with Monty’s Star.

De Bromhead’s chaser finished fourth in the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup, in the race won by Inothewayurthinkin. This season, he has fared well at the highest level, featuring in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup.

If he does line up in the Grand National, it will be his first shot at the bigger fences at the Merseyside venue.

Monty’s Star could be joined at Aintree by Gorgeous Tom, who is 32nd in the weights, guaranteeing him a run should his connections opt for the race.

The eight-year-old is a two-time winner over fences, and the pick of his performances this season came at Newbury when he was fourth in a valuable handicap chased over 3m2f.

Gorgeous Tom has been handed the lowest weight allocation, of the 34 qualifying horses, in the race, with 10st 9lb. It is 17lb lower than the former winner I Am Maximus must contend with.

De Bromhead will be hoping his horse can take advantage of his mark to cause an upset in the race.

Gordon Elliott Set to Have Multiple Runners In Record Bid

Like Mullins, Gordon Elliott is also a three-time Grand National winner. He saddled Silver Birch to victory in 2007, while more recently, the legendary Tiger Roll provided him with back-to-back triumphs in 2018 and 2019.

Elliott made 11 entries for the latest renewal of the prestigious steeplechase. His highest-rated runner is Gerri Colombe, a former Grade One winner over fences.

The Irish horse was triumphant at the same meeting two years ago when he landed the Aintree Bowl Chase.

After finishing second in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, a race which has been a good trial for the Grand National in recent years, he looks on course for the long distance race. Elliott’s runner does not have any entries at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, which will ensure he lines up fresh at Aintree.

Firefox is another one of Elliott’s leading hopes in this year’s Grand National. The eight-year-old came home fourth in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival on his most recent outing.

He was ridden by Champion Jockey Sean Bowen at Leopardstown, and that partnership could remain at Aintree.

The final declarations for this year’s Grand National will be revealed on Wednesday, the 8th of April, with the race set to take place at 4pm on Saturday, the 11th of April.

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