Grand National Entries: I Am Maximus heads the 55 left in for the Aintree showpiece

55 runners remain as the latest Grand National numbers were announced on Tuesday. 

A total of 14 came out of the race at this latest forfeit stage, including some high-profile hopes in the shape of the Ben Pauling-trained pair Pic Roc and Handstands, plus Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey. 

Gold Cup fourth Grey Dawning is another who won’t be lining up at Aintree on April 11th.

Grand National odds

Major takeaways

• 55 runners remain at this latest declaration stage
• Cheltenham winner Final Orders sneaks into the top 34
• Mullins dominates the entries with 10
• Next declaration stage, Monday 6th April

The Gordon Elliott-trained quartet of Western Fold, Better Days Ahead, Croke Park, and Search For Glory were all scratched from the race, leaving the three-time Grand National-winning trainer with a potential team of seven.

Willie Mullins dominates the entries with ten horses still entered in the race, despite O’Moore Park being scratched for not meeting the qualification criteria.

The Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame also does not go to Aintree.

Horses scratched since the last Grand National deadline:

• Better Days Ahead
• Croke Park
• Grey Dawning
• Gentlemansgame
• Handstands
• Intense Raffles
• Leave Of Absence
• Myretown
• O’Moore Park
• Pic Roc
• Resplendent Grey
• Search For Glory
• Stolen River
• Western Fold

The defections mean that the Cheltenham Cross Country Chase winner, Final Orders, sits on the right side of the cut line of 34 runners. The 33/1 shot was an impressive winner at the Festival as he bids to emulate Tiger Roll by backing up that victory with the big one at Aintree weeks later.

Ultima Chase winner Johnnywho, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, sits just outside the magic 34 number at 36. The 16/1 chance with Betfred will need a couple to come out if the nine-year-old is to take his place in the race.

The betting is headed by former winner I Am Maximus at 9/1, who has seen the most bets at Betfred in the past 24 hours. The top weight backed up his 2024 win with a second-place finish in the race twelve months ago for Willie Mullins. 

Mullins has trained the winner in the last two renewals and also saddles second-fav Grangeclare West, who hacked up in the Bobbyjo Chase in his last start, a well-trodden route for Irish-trained National hopes.

Latest 2026 Grand National odds.