Grand National 2026 pinstickers’ information: Daily Star’s knowledgeable Jason Heavey charges each horse
The Randox Grand National is the greatest steeplechase in the world.
More than 500 million people from 140 countries will be tuning in to watch the Aintree spectacle live on television at 4pm on Saturday. But who will go down in racing folklore and grab the £500,000 pot for winning?
The race is typically wide open and don’t forget there have been a lot of big price winners in recent years. Nick Rockett was 33-1 when he won 12 months ago while Noble Yeats was 50-1 in 2022. Auroras Encore in 2013 won at 66-1, while Mon Mome was a whopping 100-1 in 2009.
Daily Star Chief Tipster Jason Heavey has plumped for another outsider to win, who is currently 33-1. He got out his trusty pin in a bid to find the winner. Here is his horse-by-horse Pinstickers’ Guide…with a star rating out of five for each horse and 1,2,3,4 four prediction. (Odds are correct at the time of writing.)
1. I AM MAXIMUS 7-1
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
Winner in 2024 and second last year. Has had the perfect preparation and was fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Class act and a great chance again.
Rating: 4 stars
3. BANBRIDGE 40-1
T: Joseph O’Brien
J: J J Slevin
Class horse. King George VI Chase winner in 2024. Will love the good ground but serious doubts he will stay 4m2f. Not for me.
Rating: 2 stars
4. GRANGECLARE WEST 10-1
T: Willie Mullins
J: Patrick Mullins
A close third last year and a big player again. He’s 3lb higher in the weights and may find the ground a shade too quick.
Rating: 4 stars
5. GERRI COLOMBE 25-1
T: Gordon Elliott
J: Jack Kennedy
Interesting runner. Second in the 2024 Gold Cup. Back to form in his prep race and cannot be discounted.
Rating: 4 stars
6. HAITI COULEURS 20-1
T: Rebecca Curtis
J: Sean Bowen
Irish and Welsh National winner. Folded tamely in the Gold Cup but serious chance if back to his best. Stays well.
Rating: 4 stars
8. FIREFOX 50-1
T: Gordon Elliott
J: Keith Donoghue
Sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but despite his class he looks like another non-stayer.
Rating: 2 stars
9. MONTY’S STAR 14-1
T: Henry de Bromhead
J: Darragh O’Keeffe
Another classy beast but may find a few too good. Sure to run his race.
Rating: 3 stars
10. SPANISH HARLEM 40-1
T: Willie Mullins
J: Brian Hayes
Has had a light campaign and is capable of running well. Has an each-way squeak with Rachael Blackmore’s hubby Brian Hayes in the saddle.
Rating: 3 stars
11. LECKY WATSON 33-1
T: Willie Mullins
J: Sean O’Keeffe
Grade One winner at Cheltenham in 2024 but has been badly out-of-form this season. Would be a surprise winner.
Rating: 2 stars
12. CHAMP KIELY 33-1
T: Willie Mullins
J: Danny Mullins
Useful on his day and can’t be discounted due to his trainer. But an unlikely winner.
Rating: 2 stars
13. IROKO 14-1
T: Oli Greenall and Josh Guerriero
J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Fourth last year, a definitive stayer and a leading player. Flopped at Cheltenham but he scoped dirty afterwards. Big chance
Rating: 4 stars
14. FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU – 33-1
T: Gordon Elliott
J: Danny Gilligan
Ticks all the boxes. Jumps and stays well and is a strong traveller. Should love the fences. Second at Cheltenham. And at 33-1 he gets my vote.
Rating: 5 stars
15. THREE CARD BRAG 50-1
T: Gordon Elliott
J: Jordan Gainford
Eleventh last year. No reason to think he’ll do any better this time round. Needs the cards to fall his way and even then he needs a minor miracle.
Rating: 1 star
16. OSCAR’S BROTHER – 18-1
T: Connor King
J: Daniel King
One for the short list. Only a novice but was fourth at Cheltenham and looks like a stayer with a bit of class. Noble Yeats was a novice when he won.
Rating: 4 stars
17 MR VANGO – 66-1
T: Sara Bradstock
J: Jack Tudor
Needs a monsoon to turn the ground soft or officials to accidentally over water. Otherwise it’s hard to see this giant running.
Rating: 2 stars
18 HIGH CLASS HERO – 50-1
T: Willie Mullins
J: James Bowen
Out of form and hard to fancy. The only plus is that he’s trained by a certain Willie Mullins. That’s a fairly good positive, mind you.
Rating: 1 star
19. STELLAR STORY – 28-1
T: Gordon Elliott
J: Robbie Dunne
Talented horse on his day. Has under achieved over fences so far and can clout the odd one. Has nothing more than an each-way squeak.
Rating: 2 stars
20. BEAUPORT – 100-1
T: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
Twelfth last year. Faded after leading three out. He raced too keenly and Sam Twiston-Davies may switch him off out the back. Overpriced if he can settle. Each-way chance.
Rating: 3 stars
21. CAPTAIN CODY – 18-1
T: Willie Mullins
J: Jonny Burke
Scottish National winner. Talented but headstrong and has his own way of jumping. Tricky ride and Jonny Burke will anchor him at the back.
Rating: 3 stars
22. JAGWAR – 9-1
T: Oli Greenall and Josh Guerriero
J: Mark Walsh
Second to Johnnywho at Cheltenham. His best is yet to come and he has a serious chance if he gets the trip. But that is a big “if”.
Rating: 3 stars
23 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS – 33-1
T: Gavin Cromwell
J: Harry Cobden
Fell at the ninth last year when strongly fancied. Has had a quiet preparation and having Harry Cobden in the plate is a bonus.
Rating: 3 stars
24. GORGEOUS TOM – 28-1
T: Henry De Bromhead
J: Sean Flanagan
Has ability and will be popular with blokes called “Tom” but quite not for me.
Rating: 2 stars
25. THE REAL WHACKER – 80-1
T: Patrick Neville
J: Gavin Sheehan
Good on his day but he has probably had his day to be fair. Has little chance of staying the marathon trip.
Rating: 1 star
26. QUAI DE BOURBON – 20-1
T: Willie Mullins
J: Donagh Meyler
Live outsider with strong claims – to my eyes at least – of a place. Third in Irish National last year. Will carry my each-way pennies.
Rating: 4 stars
27. ANSWER TO KAYF – 50-1
T: Terence O’Brien
J: John Shinnick
Stamina doubts and would prefer much softer ground. Trainer will be doing a rain dance. But it looks like the heavens are not about to open.
Rating: 2 stars
28. JORDANS – 33-1
T: Joseph O’Brien
J: Ben Jones
Would be a shock winner although he did run well at Aintree in a novice chase last year. Never won further than 2m2f and has almost twice as far to go.
Rating: 2 stars
29. FINAL ORDERS – 28-1
T: Gavin Cromwell
J: Conor Stone Walsh
Serious player. Won the Cross Country at Cheltenham and will like the ground conditions. Nagging doubt he might not get home. If he does he’ll be in the mix.
Rating: 4 stars
30. MARBLE SANDS – 100-1
T: David Killahena and Graeme McPherson
J: Kielan Woods
Has bits of decent form and not quite a forlorn hope if you’ve drawn him in the sweep. Won over 3m3f at Cheltenham but stamina will be stretched.
Rating: 2 stars
31. PANIC ATTACK – 8-1
T: Dan Skelton
J: Harry Skelton
Superb mare who has had a great season. Jumps well and stamina is the only real concern. Oh, and no mare has won the National since 1951.
Rating: 4 stars
32 TOP OF THE BILL – 66-1
T: Nigel and Willy Twiston Davies
J: Toby-McCain Mitchell
Is no 66-1 shot. Toby McCain-Mitchell, grandson of Red Rum’s trainer Ginger McCain, is on board. Could give you a good run for your each-way cash.
Rating: 3 stars
33 JOHNNYWHO – 12-1
T: Jonjo and AJ O’Neill
J: Richie McLernon
Is no 80-1 shot. Toby McCain-Mitchell, grandson of Red Rum trainer Ginger McCain, is on board. Could give you a good run for your each-way cash.
Rating: 4 stars
34. TWIG – 33-1
T: Ben Pauling
J: Beau Morgan
Tenth last year. But also won the Becher Chase over the National fences in December. A bit overpriced as he carries no weight. Place claims
Rating: 3 stars
35. IMPERIAL SAINT – 50-1
T: Philip Hobbs and Johnson White
J: Callum Pritchard
Ex-champion jockey Richard Johnson runs a syndicate that owns him. Won three times at Aintree (Mildmay Course) and has an each-way chance.
Rating: 3 stars
36. AMIRITE – 80-1
T: Henry De Bromhead
J: To be confirmed
Ex-champion jockey Richard Johnson runs a syndicate that owns him. Won three times at Aintree (Mildmay Course) and has an each-way chance.
Rating: 2 stars
HEAVEY’S TOP 6
1 Favori De Champdou
2 I Am Maximus
3 Quai De Bourbon
4 Haiti Couleurs
5 Gerri Colombe
6 Beauport
