Grand National Weights: How do they work and who is best handicapped?

The 2026 Grand National field is taking shape following the latest forfeit stage on Tuesday, with 55 runners left in with just over two weeks to go before the Aintree showpiece. 

With the race being a handicap, each horse is weighted based on their ability, so we’ve taken a closer look at the Grand National weights, what they mean and which horses could be ‘well-handicapped’ for the big race.

Grand National 2026 odds

How do the Grand National weights work?

Each horse in the Grand National must be officially handicapped, with an official rating of at least 125.

The weights on the racecard are shown as 11-12. The 11 refers to stone and the 12 refers to pounds (lbs), and this is the weight the horse must carry in the race.

That weight is made up by the weight of the jockey, and any extra are made up by metal plates that sit in the saddle.

The jockey and saddle are weighed before and after the race to make sure they’re correct.

How are the Grand National weights calculated?

The horse’s weight is determined by how it has run in the past. Each horse has an official rating (OR) determined by the British Horseracing Board. The better the horse performs, the higher the rating it is given, and in handicap races like the Grand National, the highest official rating will carry ‘top weight’.

For this year’s race, former winner and last year’s runner-up I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins, is the highest rated horse in the race, off a mark of 168, and therefore will carry a top weight of 11st 12lbs.

Last year’s winner Nick Rockett, is officially rated 167, which is one mark less than I Am Maximus, therefore carries one pound less than his stablemate.

And so on.

The 2026 Grand National will have 34 runners, with the declaration cut-off for the race on Wednesday, 8th April. Currently, the Dan Skelton-trained Panic Attack is the no.34 runner based on official rating, and he’ll carry 10st 5lbs, over a stone and a half less than I Am Maximus.

What does well handicapped mean?

A horse that is deemed ‘well handicapped’ can be for a number of reasons.

It could be that the horse has run since its weights were set for the Grand National in January, to a better rating and therefore deemed to have a favourable weight.

It could be that a horse is improving, so we’ve not quite seen the best of the horse yet and may have a favourable weight as a result.

It could be because connections have been protecting the horse’s rating by running them over hurdles, which have a different rating system from chases.

What are the best handicapped horses in the 2026 Grand National?

Horses considered well-handicapped include Spillane’s Tower, Final Orders and Panic Attack.

All three of these have adjusted ratings based on their runs since the weights were originally announced.

Spillane’s Tower is a dual Grade One winner as a novice, plus the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January.

Final Orders was an impressive winner of the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and has a featherweight 10-5 here.

As does Panic Attack, who sneaks in at number 34 following the most recent forfeit stage. The mare has won three times this season and was third on her last start in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. If any trainer knows how to deploy a handicap plot job, it’s Dan Skelton!

Grand National Weights Trends

• 9 of the last 11 winners carried between 10-5 and 11-8
• Only four of the last 12 winners have carried over 11 stone to victory
• As the class of the horses entered has improved, the last two winners carried 11-6 and 11-8