Cast of 55 possible runners - Will this year's Aintree Grand National go to Ireland? The Grand National at Aintree is looming large, with the Merseyside marathon set to take place on Saturday, April 11. The battle for Anglo-Irish supremacy in National Hunt racing is seemingly getting closer. The Irish were 15-13 winners in the Prestbury Cup at last month's Cheltenham Festival, while many of the leading contenders in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday are UK raiders. Six of the last seven Aintree Nationals have been won by horses trained in Ireland. Will the trend continue in 2026? We're looking at some of the Irish challengers. The Mullins contingent Willie Mullins has won back-to-back Grand Nationals at Aintree with I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett. The 2024 winner was second to his stablemate last term as Patrick Mullins steered home the winner for his father, who had a one-two-three-five in an incredible result for his Closutton yard. Grangeclare West was third last year and is set to join Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus again on Merseyside. The reigning champ is 5lb higher off 167 this time, while I Am Maximus is rated 168, 9lb higher than when he won in 2024 but up only 1lb from last year. That Mullins trio makes up three of the top four in the weights among a cast of 55 possible runners. Mullins accounts for as many as 10 of those left in, with Spanish Harlem, Lecky Watson, Champ Kiely, High Class Hero, Captain Cody and Quai De Bourbon the others currently guaranteed a run. Grangeclare West won the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on his most recent start, the same race that both I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett landed en route to taking Aintree glory. Elliott's team looks strong Gordon Elliott needs one more win to become the joint-most successful trainer in Grand National history and the Cullentra handler has plenty of contenders. Gerri Colombe, Firefox, Favori De Champdou, Three Card Brag and Stellar Story are all assured of a run, while Pied Piper needs a few to come out and Will Do is unlikely to get in. Gerri Colombe was second to Grangeclare West in the Bobbyjo Chase and has won since at Down Royal. The Robcour-owned 10-year-old has class in his corner and two Aintree wins from his only previous visits. Firefox for Bective Stud ran a very honourable sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and looks a key player off a mark of 160 while Three Card Brag is rated 156 and could do better than last year, when he travelled ominously and perhaps made his effort earlier than ideal. Banbridge eyeing Aintree Joseph O'Brien could be double-handed in the Grand National at Aintree with Banbridge and Jordans. The 10-year-old Banbridge has winning form at the Merseyside track after landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase in 2023 but he is winless since the King George in 2024, though he was second in the Christmas showpiece this season. He was third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham most recently. Jordans has been somewhat out of sorts this season but O'Brien believes drying conditions will aid him. Monty's Star and Final Orders in the mix Henry de Bromhead knows how to win this race and Monty's Star could be his leading contender in 2026. The Walk In The Park gelding has typically come up short in Grade 1 company but could be attractively weighted off 159, while his trainer also has the likes of Gorgeous Tom and possibly Amirite in the mix. Jimmy Mangan is set to target this event with Spillane's Tower, while Gavin Cromwell could send out Perceval Legallois, Now Is The Hour and Final Orders. The last-named won Cheltenham's Cross Country race last time — the same contest Tiger Roll bagged en route to successive Aintree wins.
