Grand National Horse Racing Tips - Get all the top racing tips for 11 April 2026

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 44 minutes ago

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Simon Lewis 44 minutes ago

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I Am Maximus is ranked as the hot favourite.
Grangeclare West is a top contender with last year’s winner riding him.
Iroko is a power runner, good on the jumps and could be in contention at the finish.
Nick Rockett will be weighed down by the defending champ’s handicap and, although a strong runner, is ranked unlikely to defend his title.

Jonjo O'Neill Jr riding Iroko, a powerful jumper (Getty Images).

Best Bet of the Day - Grand National at Aintree in Liverpool

Best Bet of the Day - Grand National at Aintree in Liverpool
Race Favourite – I Am Maximus
Defending champion – Nick Rockett
Top contender – Grangeclare West
Hot tip – Iroko

Among the 34 horses lined-up to compete for one of the most prestigious (and toughest) races on the sporting calendar are last year’s winner Nick Rockett and the 2024 champ, I Am Maximus.

The latter was favourite to win back-to-back titles but was beaten to the post, in part due to the extra weight he was forced to carry. This year he is again carrying a heavy load and, as a 10-year-old, the extra weight really adds to the difficulty he faces.

Race Favourite – I Am Maximus

Jockey: Paul Townend | Trainer: Willie Mullins

I Am Maximus is the hot ticket having won in 2024 and pushed Nick Rockett hard for the win last year, only to be narrowly beaten. The 10-year-old bay gelding had a good run in February’s Irish Gold Cup in February without making any headlines. He will carry the maximum weight of 11st 12lb again after the same carry in 2025, which is a major impediment to his hopes of winning with such a heavy handicap.

Defending champion – Nick Rockett

Jockey: Tom Bellamy | Trainer: Willie Mullins

The defending champ Nick Rockett will be saddled with a heavy load and although he had almost a year off after 3 wins on the bounce at the start of 2025, his last run saw him place 3rd out of 4 runners just 22 days ago. Don’t rule him out, but he will need luck to roll his way if he hopes for back-to-back wins.

Top contender – Grangeclare West

Jockey: Patrick Mullins | Trainer: Willie Mullins

Grangeclare West has been resting for 46 days after his win at Fairyhouse on 21 February. He picked up 3 wins in a row in late 2023, but for the next 2 years his best finish was a single 2nd place on 1 February last year.

A major piece of news is that Nick Rockett’s win last year was with jockey Patrick Mullins in tow, but Mullins is going to be pushing Grangeclare West hard in this Saturday’s Grand National. That could make a big difference and backs up the strong odds on the 7-yr-old bay gelding.

Hot tip – Iroko

Jockey: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | Trainer: Oliver Greenall

Iroko has huge backing after last year’s superb performance that saw the 8-yr-old bay gelding fight his from the back of the field from fence one through to a final placing of 4th in the Grand National 2025. His last race a month ago saw him place 10th in a field of 12 after an 80-day break that had yielded a 2nd place and a 1st place. Prior to that he pulled in placings of 2-4-2-4, which shows the power of this classy stayer who adds in great ability at the jumps.

Verdict

2026 Grand National

I Am Maximus is again the hot favourite, while defending champ Nick Rockett is likely to be off the pace. Grangeclare West and Iroko are rated highly as top contenders for the title.

I Am Maximus Win

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Grangeclare West Win

Result

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Iroko Win

Result

@13.00 - 1 Unit

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Nick Rockett Win

Result

@17.00 - 1 Unit

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