I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett, the last two winners of the iconic Grand National, headline the confirmed entries for this Saturday's historic race at Aintree.
Both horses, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, are set to carry the top weights for the 2026 renewal. I Am Maximus, owned by racing magnate JP McManus, secured a commanding victory in 2024, while Nick Rockett triumphed under jockey Patrick Mullins in 2025.
I Am Maximus is bidding to become the first horse to carry top weight to victory since the legendary Red Rum in the 1970s.
A total of 49 entries remain, with the final field of 34 runners and four reserves to be announced on Wednesday. McManus, seeking an unprecedented fourth Grand National win, also has strong contenders in Iroko and Jagwar, both trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.
Nick Rockett will attempt to match Tiger Roll's recent feat of consecutive victories, last achieved by Red Rum decades ago. The field is heavily dominated by Irish trainer Mullins, who has nine horses guaranteed to run, including last year's third-placed Grangeclare West.
Notable withdrawals on Monday included L'Homme Presse, French Dynamite, and Now Is The Hour, while other trainers like Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead have strong entries hoping to challenge the favorites. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown this Saturday at 16:00 BST.