Grand National 2026

[Steeplechasing]

Chris Cook’s Handicap:

11-12 I Am Maximus
11-11 Banbridge, Nick Rockett
11-9 Grey Dawning
11-8 Gerri Colombe
11-7 L’Homme Presse, Spillane’s Tower
11-6 Grangeclare West
11-5 Flooring Porter
11-4 Appreciate It
11-3 Gentlemansgame
11-2 Haiti Couleurs, Impaire Et Passe, Western Fold
11-1 Firefox
11-0 Favori De Champdou, Monty’s Star
10-13 Lecky Watson, Three Card Brag
10-12 Champ Kiely, Handstands, Iroko
10-11 Mr Vango, Spanish Harlem
10-10 Beauport, Resplendent Grey
10-9 Better Days Ahead, French Dynamite, High Class Hero, Jagwar, Jordans, Stellar Story
10-8 Perceval Legallois, The Real Whacker
10-7 Captain Cody, Gorgeous Tom, Ile Atlantique, Quai De Bourbon
10-6 Ain’t That A Shame, Now Is The Hour
10-5 Answer To Kayf, Croke Park, Intense Raffles, Oscars Brother, Paggane
10-4 Panic Attack, Marble Sands
10-3 Blizzard Of Oz, Johnnywho, Leave Of Absence, Twig
10-2 Final Orders, Stolen Silver, Top Of The Bill
10-1 Amirite, Imperial Saint, Search For Glory
10-0 Buddy One, Hyland, Pied Piper, Soul Icon
9-13 Blaze The Way, Monbeg Genius, Myretown
9-12 Pic Roc, Deep Cave, Harry Des Ongrais, Yeah Man
9-11 Mister Coffey, O’Moore Park
9-9 Anyway, The Short Go
9-7 Shanbally Kid, Weveallbeencaught
9-5 In d’Or
9-4 Deafening Silence, Will Do
8-11 Beaufort Scale

[Astralcharmer]

Probably what bugs me is that they still call the race The Grand National. It’s just a very poor imitation and as such should be renamed so it doesn’t upset the sensibilities of those who think it’s still akin to the aftermath of the Charge of the Light Brigade.

I could do without all the faux excitement and talk of the ‘big fences’ when we all know Ludlow is probably more of a challenge now.

The BHA and Aintree played a game of Whack—a-mole endlessly altering the race in the name of safety only to cause another issue they hadn’t considered.

I still love the rest of the Aintree National meeting and would be happy to keep The Topham & Foxhunters but the National has had it’s day and even though I was once one of it’s biggest fans I would be quite content to see it consigned to history.

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