Last year's Grand National winner Nick Rockett has been pulled from this weekend's race at Aintree after developing a cough, dashing hopes of a historic back-to-back victory.
Nick Rockett, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden to victory by his son Patrick Mullins in 2025, was withdrawn from the 2026 Grand National field on Wednesday. The horse was reportedly coughing, leading to his declaration as a non-runner just days before the prestigious steeplechase.
"He was attempting to become just the second consecutive winner since the legendary Red Rum achieved the feat in the 1970s," said racing analyst Mike Peter. "This is a significant blow to connections who were hoping to make history."
The withdrawal reshuffles the lineup for Saturday's race. First reserve Pied Piper, trained by three-time Grand National winner Gordon Elliott, will now take the vacant spot in the 34-horse field.
Interestingly, jockey Patrick Mullins had already opted to ride Grangeclare West—last year's third-place finisher—instead of the defending champion. Tom Bellamy was surprisingly slated to ride Nick Rockett before the withdrawal announcement.
With Nick Rockett out, attention turns to 2024 winner I Am Maximus, who enters as the 7-1 favorite. The top-weighted horse faces the challenge of becoming the first to win under such conditions since Red Rum in 1974.
Trainer Willie Mullins still fields eight horses in the race as he seeks to become the first trainer to win three consecutive Grand Nationals since Vincent O'Brien accomplished the feat from 1953 to 1955. Paul Townend will ride I Am Maximus for the third straight year, hoping to improve on last year's second-place finish behind Nick Rockett.
The 2026 Grand National is scheduled to begin at 16:00 BST on Saturday at Aintree Racecourse.