I Am Maximus heads Grand National confirmations

I Am Maximus has finished first and second in his two runs in the Grand National [Getty Images] I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett - the past two winners of the Grand National - head the confirmations for Saturday's race at Aintree. The pair, both trained by Willie Mullins, won the race in 2024 and 2025 respectively and top the weights for the 2026 renewal. I Am Maximus, owned by JP McManus, triumphed by seven and a half lengths in 2024, before finishing two and a half lengths behind Nick Rockett who was victorious under Mullins' son Patrick last year.

There are 49 entries remaining, and a maximum of 34 runners will line up on the day after the final field and four reserves are announced on Wednesday. McManus is seeking a record fourth victory in the race, and has leading hopefuls Iroko and Jagwar - both trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. Johnnywho is also guaranteed a run for McManus after withdrawals at the five-day stage.

I Am Maximus is bidding to become the first horse to carry top weight to victory since triple winner Red Rum in the 1970s. Nick Rockett will attempt to match Tiger Roll's feat of back-to-back wins achieved in 2018 and 2019. The previous horse to do that was Red Rum.

Grand National: Weights and entries for 2026 race L'Homme Presse, French Dynamite and Now Is The Hour were all taken out on Monday, while three others below the cut-off line were also scratched. The field is again set to be dominated by Irish trainer Mullins, with the three-time winner currently having nine horses guaranteed to run. Joining I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett are last year's third-placed Grangeclare West, Spanish Harlem, Lecky Watson, Champ Kiely, High Class Hero, Captain Cody and Quai De Bourbon.