The weights for the 2026 Grand National have been released, and as always, they tell a fascinating story before a single horse has left the starting tape.
History shows that nine of the last 11 winners carried between 10st 5lbs and 11st 8lbs, so studying the horse race oddsin the context of those weights is a sensible starting point for any serious punter. Several high-profile contenders find themselves sitting just outside that ideal range, and for all their talent, history suggests they face a stiff task.
Here is a look at the horses who will need to defy the trends to land the Aintree marathon.
I Am Maximus (11st 12lb)
The 2024 Grand National winner carries top weight this year, and the scale of that challenge should not be underestimated. To win under 11st 12lb, I Am Maximus would become the first horse since the legendary Red Rum to carry top weight to victory in the race.
What is interesting is that he was already the heaviest horse in the field when finishing second to Nick Rockett last year, so connections know exactly what they are up against. He is a proven National horse with the ability to handle Aintree’s unique demands, but the weight alone makes his task considerably harder than when he triumphed two years ago.
Grangeclare West (11st 10lb)
Willie Mullins has dominated the Grand National in recent years, winning the last two renewals, and Grangeclare West gives him another serious contender. The 10-year-old sits a couple of pounds outside the ideal weight range, though his racing results suggest he is more than capable of running a big race.
He finished third in this contest last year under Brian Hayes, carrying 11st 8lb, so he arrives this year shouldering a little extra, which is a factor worth considering. His prep run in the Bobbyjo Chase under Paul Townend was encouraging, and he remains a legitimate each-way contender despite the weight concern.
Haiti Couleurs (11st 10lb)
Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen are targeting a historic double with Haiti Couleurs, having already landed the Welsh Grand National with the bay gelding earlier this season. The plan is to go the Gold Cup route before heading to Aintree, a path that mirrors Corach Rambler’s build-up to his own National victory a few years ago.
At 11st 10lb, Haiti Couleurs sits outside the weight range that trends favour, but there is enough substance to his form and enough quality in the team around him to make him a genuine contender regardless. If the Gold Cup prep sharpens him up as expected, he could outrun his handicap mark.
Nick Rockett (11st 11lb)
Perhaps the most poignant story in the entire field belongs to Nick Rockett. His victory 12 months ago was deeply emotional, with Patrick Mullins guiding him home for his father Willie in a race that also carried a powerful backstory for the ownership team.
Now the defending champion returns with an ambition to become the first horse since Tiger Roll in 2019 to win back-to-back Grand Nationals. The handicapper has responded to that win by hoisting him from 11st 8lb to 11st 11lb, a hike of three pounds that could prove a potentially insurmountable barrier given what the historical data tells us. He remains a beloved horse with proven Aintree credentials, but the weight rise makes repeating last year’s heroics a tall order.
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The Grand National has a long history of rewarding horses who defy conventional wisdom, and any one of these four could yet prove the trends wrong come April. For now, though, the numbers are not in their favour.