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I asked ChatGtp: Do you have an opinion regarding the runners and riders for this years Grand National? Odds, fancies, tip, news etc?

Defending champ out: Nick Rockett (2025 winner) is a non-runner → big shake-up in the market
Willie Mullins domination continues — he’s chasing a third straight National
Field now capped at 34 runners with stricter safety criteria
Market + models both pointing toward the same cluster of horses (Mullins-heavy)

🐎 The market leaders (rough guide)

Current vibe rather than exact bookmaker ticks:

I Am Maximus (~7/1 fav)
Panic Attack (~8/1)
Grangeclare West (~10/1)
Iroko (~10–12/1)
Jagwar (~12–16/1)


👉 Important stat: favourites rarely win — only a handful since 1999
So don’t just steam into the jolly.

🧠 Key contenders – proper breakdown
⭐ I Am Maximus (the obvious one)
2024 winner, 2nd in 2025
Proven over fences + trip
Carries top weight again (11-12) — that’s the concern

👉 Verdict: Rock-solid but short enough. Place banker vibes more than sexy win bet.

🔥 Grangeclare West (the “plot” horse)
Strong staying profile, big Fairyhouse win
Mullins #2 (or even #1 depending on jockey bookings)
Supercomputer pick to win

👉 Verdict: Ticks a lot of National trends — very dangerous.

💣 Panic Attack (dark horse turned proper contender)
Big handicap wins this season
Unexposed at extreme trip

👉 Verdict: If he stays, he’s absolutely bang there.

🎯 Iroko (the solid each-way angle)
4th last year
Stays well, consistent profile

👉 Verdict: Classic National type — not flashy but reliable.

🚀 Jagwar (the trendy improver)
Strong Cheltenham run (Ultima)
Nicely weighted, improving profile

👉 Verdict: The “young legs” angle — lots of tipsters latching on.

🧩 Other names getting mentions
Monty’s Star (tipped winner by some experts)
Favori De Champdou
Haiti Couleurs (stamina but patchy)
Gerri Colombe / Banbridge (classy but stamina doubts)
📊 Trends & angles (worth more than “tips”)
✅ Proven stamina = absolutely essential
✅ Experience of big-field handicaps helps
⚠️ Top weight is a negative historically
⚠️ Cheltenham form doesn’t always translate to Aintree
🎲 Massive variance — shocks are normal (33/1 winner last year)
🧾 My honest punting view

If I had to play it like a bettor:

🥇 Main fancy

Grangeclare West
→ Right mix of class, stamina, and profile

🥈 Saver / danger

I Am Maximus
→ Could just be too good again despite weight

💰 Each-way angles
Iroko (solid, will run his race)
Jagwar (upside + weight)
🎯 Slightly against
Short-priced favourite in general
Horses relying purely on class (without proven stamina)
🧠 Final thought

This looks like another Mullins-dominated renewal, but the National still punishes certainty. The market leaders are strong this year — stronger than usual — but historically that’s exactly when something at double-figure odds ruins the script.

 Sandracer @ 8:19 pm, April 09, 2026  

I asked Grok: Do you have an opinion regarding the runners and riders for this years Grand National? Odds, fancies, tip, news etc?

Willie Mullins still dominates with multiple strong contenders, including the 2024 winner. The race remains a handicap chase over ~4 miles 2½ furlongs with 30 fences—always a lottery, but recent trends favour horses with proven stamina, good jumping records, and Aintree experience.Current Favourites and Odds (approximate, as of April 9; always check latest with bookmakers)Odds fluctuate, but the market leaders include:I Am Maximus (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend) — 7/1 to 8/1
Grangeclare West (Willie Mullins/Patrick Mullins) — 9/1 to 10/1
Jagwar (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero/Mark Walsh) — 10/1
Iroko (Greenall & Guerriero) — 12/1 to 14/1
Panic Attack (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) — 8/1 to 14/1 (prominent mare)

Other notables at bigger prices: Oscars Brother (16/1), Haiti Couleurs (16-18/1), Gerri Colombe (25-33/1), Monty's Star (20/1), and outsiders like Captain Cody or Beauport. Many bookies are offering enhanced places (e.g., 6 places each-way at 1/5 odds), which is worth shopping around for.


Runners and Riders Highlights (Horse-by-Horse Snapshot)
The full confirmed 34-runner list (numbers approximate based on declarations; Nick Rockett is NR):I Am Maximus (10yo, 11-12, Paul Townend) — 2024 winner, runner-up in 2025 under top weight. Strong recent form (e.g., placed in Grade 1s). Proven Aintree star, but carrying top weight is a big ask—no top-weight winner since the 1970s. Still a serious contender for a repeat or podium.


Grangeclare West (10yo, 11-10, Patrick Mullins) — Third in 2025 behind the Mullins pair. Recent Bobbyjo Chase winner; strong stayer with scope. Many see him as the pick of the Mullins team now.


Other strong Mullins entries include Spanish Harlem, Lecky Watson, etc.Panic Attack (mare, 10yo, ~10-5, Harry Skelton) — In excellent form with multiple wins this season (including Coral Gold Cup). Mares have a poor recent record in the National (last win 1951), but she's progressive and lightly weighted relatively. Big each-way interest.


Jagwar (7yo, 10-10, Mark Walsh) — Progressive younger horse; strong in big handicaps like the Ultima at Cheltenham. Could be suited by the trip as he matures.

Iroko — Good Aintree record (placed last year after coming from rear); stayed on well.Gerri Colombe (Gordon Elliott) — Classy but needs to prove stamina fully after injury layoff; placed in Bobbyjo recently.

Lower-weighted or progressive types like Oscars Brother, Haiti Couleurs (National winner elsewhere), and Monty's Star offer each-way appeal at bigger prices.Many horses bring solid chase form, but the fences and distance sort out the pretenders quickly. Proven jumpers and those who've handled Aintree or similar big fields tend to fare best.

My Opinion, Fancies, and TipAs an AI, I don't gamble, but I can analyse based on form, trends, and expert consensus. This looks like a wide-open renewal with the Mullins stranglehold slightly loosened by Nick Rockett's absence.

Strongest fancy: Grangeclare West — His 2025 third (close up), recent win, and staying power make him hard to oppose. Patrick Mullins is a superb big-race rider.
Each-way play: Panic Attack — Progressive, in-form mare with scope to outrun her weight. Could make history if she wins.

Value outsider: Something like Iroko or Jagwar for their Aintree affinity and progressive profiles. Or a bigger price like Oscars Brother if you want a long-shot thrill.

My overall tip: I'll side with Grangeclare West to win, with I Am Maximus and Panic Attack for the places. The race is famously unpredictable—ground (likely good to soft?), jumping errors, and race position will decide it. Back a couple each-way for fun rather than going all-in on one.

 Sandracer @ 8:24 pm, April 09, 2026  

Grand National Tips >>

Timeform 1-2-3
1) Johnnywho (IRE)
2) Jagwar (FR)
3) I Am Maximus (FR)
Willie Mullins saddled an unprecedented 1-2-3 in this 12 months ago and it's possible J P McManus could repeat the feat as an owner, so strong is his hand this year. JOHNNYWHO and Jagwar are both ahead of their marks after finishing 1-2 in the Ultima at Cheltenham and can lead home 2024 winner I Am Maximus.

Perceval Legallois is yet another likely type in the famous green and gold silks, while, at bigger odds, Gorgeous Tom and Favori de Champdou also have plenty to recommend them.

Oddschecker 1-2-3
1) Grangeclare West
2) Iroko
3) Panic Attack
GRANGECLARE WEST may well have challenged for victory 12 months ago had he not made a bad mistake at the final fence before staying on strongly from the Elbow to finish third. Following the same route of all three of Willie Mullins' Aintree heroes, having landed the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse last time, he has a strong chance of going two places better. 2024 winner I Am Maximus split him and the now-absent Nick Rockett when attempting to defend his crown and arrives having shown high-class form when runner-up in the Savills at Leopardstown in December. Cheekpieces go back on to aid his cause but he may need softer ground to be truly at his best.

Iroko's lack of experience may have told when fourth 12 months ago and he had a valid excuse for underperforming when scoping dirty after the Ultima at Cheltenham, where the same owner's Johnnywho got the better of Jagwar. The latter is a particularly interesting runner and is equipped with first-time cheekpieces, but his tendency to clout the odd fence could hamper his claims.

Panic Attack already has two major handicap successes to her name this campaign with the Paddy Power/Coral Gold Cup double and she has to be respected along with Monty's Star, who ran with plenty of promise in the Irish Gold Cup, Haiti Couleurs and Captain Cody.

 Sandracer @ 10:41 pm, April 10, 2026  

Pricewise National Bets : Tom Segal
Monty's Star ~ 12/1
Captain Cody ~ 16/1

Atthraces Bets : Hugh Taylor
1pt each-way MONTY’S STAR (16-1 bet365, 14-1 Betfair Sportsbook, Betfred, BetVictor, BoyleSports, Paddy Power, Sky Bet - all paying six places)

 Sandracer @ 10:47 pm, April 10, 2026  

PG's Tips ~ Grand National Bet.

Geedee has gone for:
Final Orders 25/1 (ew)
Final Orders is the each-way suggestion, currently 25/1 with a number of layers; Sky offer 22/1 and pay seven places.

Read the full 2026 Grand National post here >>

 Sandracer @ 12:09 pm, April 11, 2026  

Race Result - Aintree, 11th April 2026

16:00 Randox Grand National Handicap Chase
(Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Going good to soft, 34 ran.

Place Horse Jockey Distance No. Weight S.P.
1st I Am Maximus P Townend 1 11 12 9/2 F
Chased leaders, not fluent and dropped to midfield 11th, chased leaders 15th (Chair), midfield when not fluent 21st, slow 22nd (Becher's), steady headway from 2 out, went fourth before last, ridden and went second before Elbow, headway to challenge Elbow, soon edged left, led flat, stayed on well

2nd Iroko J J O'Neill 2 1/2 lengths 13 11 1 18/1
Midfield, in touch with leaders when not fluent 8th (Canal Turn), not fluent 26th, ridden before 2 out, headway approaching last, fifth approaching Elbow, edged left and stayed on strongly final 110yds, went second final strides

3rd Jordans Mr B R Jones 1 1/4 length 28 10 8 28/1
Mid-division, towards rear when hampered 7th (Foinavon), slow 19th, steady headway from 23rd (Foinavon), prominent 4 out, led before next, went clear approaching 2 out, ridden approaching Elbow, headed flat, no extra and lost second final 50yds

4th Johnnywho R P Mclernon 1/2 length 33 10 4 12/1
Midfield, mistake 19th, hit next, not fluent 25th (Valentine's), headway to go third 2 out, ridden when impeded by loose horse before Elbow, kept on final 110yds

5th High Class Hero Mr J C Bowen 6 1/2 lengths 18 10 11 66/1
Prominent, bad mistake and lost place 15th (Chair), mistake 19th, went second before 2 out, ridden when mistake last, lost second before Elbow, weakened final 110yds

6th Favori De Champdou D J Gilligan 1 1/4 length 14 11 1 40/1
Wore hood to post, midfield, hampered 2nd, not fluent 3 out, lost place before 2 out, kept on one pace from last

7th Final Orders C Stone-Walsh 9 lengths 29 10 5 22/1
Chased leaders, slightly hampered 15th (Chair), ridden before 2 out, no extra approaching last

8th Champ Kiely D E Mullins 1 length 12 11 1 25/1
Hampered 2nd, mistake and pecked 22nd (Becher's), headway before 2 out where not fluent, no extra approaching Elbow

9th Three Card Brag Mr J C Gainford 3 lengths 15 11 0 50/1
Mistake 9th (Valentine's), bumped 12th, hampered by loose horse 21st, headway to go prominent 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened after last

10th Monty's Star D J O'Keeffe 5 1/2 lengths 9 11 3 14/1
Wore hood to post, in touch with leaders, slow and dropped to midfield 11th, chased leaders 15th (Chair), close up 25th (Valentine's), mistake 26th, chased clear leader after 3 out, lost second before 2 out, ridden and faded before last

11th Answer To Kayf John Shinnick 1 3/4 length 27 10 8 100/1
Never better than midfield

12th Gorgeous Tom S W Flanagan 9 1/2 lengths 24 10 9 20/1
Mid-division, hampered 7th (Foinavon), hampered and dropped to rear 18th, ridden before 2 out, never in contention

13th Imperial Saint Mr Callum Pritchard Neck 36 10 2 50/1
Prominent, led 25th (Valentine's), mistake and headed next, lost place 3 out, faded before next

14th Haiti Couleurs Mr S P Bowen 34 lengths 6 11 10 28/1
Never better than mid-division, pecked 6th (Becher's), bumped 12th, hampered 19th, weakened before 2 out

15th Twig Mr Beau Morgan 32 lengths 34 10 4 40/1
Mounted in chute and wore hood to post, not fluent at times, close up, mistake 11th, losing place when blundered 19th, tailed off from 3 out

16th Firefox K M Donoghue 34 lengths 8 11 4 40/1
Always in rear, hampered 2nd, never involved

 Sandracer @ 4:54 pm, April 11, 2026  

continued....

Fell Panic Attack Harry Skelton 31 10 5 7/1
Midfield, badly hampered 2nd, fell heavily 3rd

Fell Mr Vango Mr Jack Tudor 17 10 12 66/1
Midfield, mistake and fell 6th (Becher's)

Fell Marble Sands Mr T Bellamy 30 10 5 66/1
Jumped left, towards rear, mistake 3rd, hit next, fell 18th

Fell Gerri Colombe J W Kennedy 5 11 10 33/1
Midfield, fell 7th (Foinavon)

Fell Quai De Bourbon Donagh Meyler 26 10 9 33/1
Prominent when overjumped and fell 2nd

Fell Top Of The Bill Mr Toby McCain-mitchell 32 10 5 50/1
Chased leaders, mistake 4th, close up 9th, led 20th, bad mistake and headed 25th (Valentine's), led again 4 out, headed before next, weakened before 2 out, fell 2 out

Fell Stellar Story R T Dunne 19 10 11 33/1
Wore hood to post, mistake and sprawled 18th, fell next

Pulled Up Spanish Harlem Mr B Hayes 10 11 3 50/1
Midfield, towards rear when blundered 15th (Chair), tailed off 26th, pulled up before 4 out

Pulled Up Amirite P T Enright 37 10 2 100/1
Led, mistake and headed 20th, lost place 26th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next

Pulled Up Lecky Watson S F O'Keeffe 11 11 2 50/1
In touch with leaders, slow 11th, mistake 19th, in rear when hampered by loose horse 21st, pulled up before 4 out

Pulled Up The Real Whacker Mr G Sheehan 25 10 9 50/1
In touch with leaders when mistake 1st, dropped to rear when mistake 3rd, hampered 6th (Becher's), mistake 11th, pulled up before 13th

Unseated Rider Captain Cody J J Burke 21 10 10 22/1
Midfield, blundered 15th (Chair), mistake 19th, hampered by loose horse 21st, still in touch when unseated rider 4 out

Unseated Rider Jagwar M P Walsh 22 10 10 17/2
Wore hood to post, midfield, in touch with leaders when not fluent 15th (Chair), fell 19th

Unseated Rider Beauport S Twiston-Davies 20 10 11 80/1
Midfield, took closer order 17th, unseated rider 19th

Unseated Rider Perceval Legallois Mr H Cobden 23 10 9 33/1
Always towards rear, hampered 6th (Becher's), unseated rider 4 out

Unseated Rider Grangeclare West Mr P W Mullins 4 11 10 9/1
Hampered start, in rear when unseated rider 1st

Unseated Rider Oscars Brother D King 16 10 13 14/1
Held up in mid-division, unseated rider 15th (Chair)

Unseated Rider Banbridge Mr J J Slevin 3 11 11 33/1
Mid-division, hampered 2nd, blundered and rider lost iron 11th, blundered and unseated rider 15th (Chair)

 Sandracer @ 4:56 pm, April 11, 2026  

2026 Grand National Live Odds Archive

no 1: I Am Maximus 7/1, 13/2, 6/1, 11/2, 11/2, 6/1, 11/2, 6/1, 11/2, 6/1, 11/2, 5/1 ~ 9/2 sp
no 31: Panic Attack 15/2, 8/1, 17/2, 8/1, 15/2, 8/1, 15/2 ~ 7/1 sp
no 22: Jagwar 8/1, 15/2, 8/1 ~ 17/2 sp
no 4: Grangeclare West 9/1, 17/2, 9/1, 17/2 ~ 9/1 sp
no 33: Johnnywho 10/1, 11/1, 10/1, 11/1 ~ 12/1 sp
no 9: Monty's Star 12/1 ~ 14/1 sp
no 16: Oscars Brother 18/1, 20/1, 18/1, 16/1 ~ 14/1 sp
no 13: Iroko 18/1 ~ 24/1 sp
no 24: Gorgeous Tom 20/1, 22/1, 25/1, 22/1 ~ 20/1 sp
no 29: Final Orders 22/1, 20/1, 22/1, 20/1 ~ 22/1 sp
no 21: Captain Cody 20/1 ~ 22/1 sp
no 12: Champ Kiely 22/1, 25/1, 22/1, 25/1, 28/1, 25/1, 22/1, 25/1, 22/1 ~ 25/1 sp
no 28: Jordans 33/1, 28/1, 33/1, 28/1, 25/1 ~ 28/1 sp
no 6: Haiti Couleurs 25/1, 28/1, 25/1 ~ 28/1 sp
no 23: Perceval Legallois 33/1, 28/1, 33/1, 28/1 ~ 33/1 sp
no 5: Gerri Colombe 33/1 ~ 33/1 sp
no 3: Banbridge 40/1 ~ 33/1 sp
no 19: Stellar Story 33/1, 28/1, 33/1, 28/1 ~ 33/1 sp
no 26: Quai De Bourbon 33/1, 40/1, 33/1, 40/1, 33/1, 40/1 ~ 33/1 sp
no 14: Favori De Champdou 40/1 ~ 40/1 sp
no 34: Twig 40/1 ~ 40/1 sp
no 8: Firefox 40/1 ~ 40/1 sp
no 15: Three Card Brag 50/1 ~ 50/1 sp
no 36: Imperial Saint 50/1, 66/1, 50/1, 66/1, 50/1, 66/1 ~ 50/1 sp
no 32: Top Of The Bill 66/1, 50/1, 66/1 ~ 50/1 sp
no 10: Spanish Harlem 40/1 ~ 50/1 sp
no 11: Lecky Watson 50/1 ~ 50/1 sp
no 25: The Real Whacker 66/1 ~ 50/1 sp
no 18: High Class Hero 50/1 ~ 66/1 sp
no 30: Marble Sands 66/1 ~ 66/1 sp
no 17: Mr Vango 66/1 ~ 66/1 sp
no 20: Beauport 80/1, 66/1, 80/1, 66/1, 80/1, 66/1, 80/1, 66/1 ~ 80/1 sp
no 27: Answer To Kayf 100/1 ~ 100/1 sp
no 37: Amirite 100/1, 80/1, 100/1, 80/1, 100/1, 80/1, 100/1, 80/1, 100/1, 80/1, 100/1, 80/1 ~ 100/1 sp

SP Book Percentage 143.18

 Sandracer @ 5:04 pm, April 11, 2026