HOW TO PICK THE WINNER
Picking the winner of the Grand National is often described as a lottery (partly because the first horse to win the National, back in 1839, was called Lottery), but there are a number of things that provide useful pointers…

AGE - 8 AND 9 YEAR-OLDS?
Old horses tend to struggle in the National, yet it takes experience to win. A 13-year-old has not won the race since 1923, a 12-year-old not since 2004, an 11-year-old not since 2014 and a 10-year-old not since 2011. Nine of the last ten winners (i.e. 90%) have been 8 or 9 years of age.

WEIGHT - IDEALLY, NO MORE THAN 11 STONE 5 POUNDS?
The National is a handicap, which means all of the entries are allocated different weights in February based on an expert's take on their form - the idea being that each horse should end up having an equal chance. However, the result is another matter entirely. Under the handicap, horses are allocated a weight between 9 stone and a shade under 12 stone (for the proven acts). But, come race day, no horse carries less than 10 stones. The Grand National is a long, arduous race and coping with a big weight usually proves too much. That said, in the last 2 years the winners carried 11st 6lbs and 11st 8lbs respectively. But, prior to that eight out of the previous ten (80%) carried less than 11st 5lbs.

BETTING - 25-1 OR UNDER?
For what is considered a game of chance, is the Grand National getting easier to predict? Maybe, given that 3 out of the last 6 Nationals have been won by the favourite. In recent memory, just one horse quoted bigger than 40-1 with a few days to go has triumphed - Mon Mome, in 2009, who won at 100-1. But, of course, eight years ago, Rule The World was 40-1 at this stage as was Red Marauder in 2001 (before eventually going off at 33s). Should you need any more convincing that the market is a good pointer, Papillon, in 2000, was 33-1 on the Friday and 10-1 when the tape went up. At this point, however, all one can do is second-guess how the market will develop.

WHAT’S IN A LETTER? AFTER ALL, THE RACE IS A LOTTERY!
The last Grand National winner with a "Z" in its name was Zoedone way back in, wait for it, 1883. Z isn't represented this year, but the letter “Q” hasn’t been attached to the winner of the Grand National since Rough Quest triumphed in 1996. So, does that augur well for Quai De Bourbon?

WHO’S ON BOARD?
Some jockeys have fond memories of the Grand National (those in bold are still active):

TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT!

As usual, I will be backing three to win plus a fourth (at a big price) each-way. Having picked out the first two in 2016, the winner in 2017, the first two in 2021 and the winner in 2024 implementing that very plan, the law of averages suggests you can instantly strike a line through the four I am about to list. But here they are anyway…

 I AM MAXIMUS – 15-2 with a few firms and likely to go off as favourite
Carries top weight again, but clearly enjoys the National; plus Paul Townend, who has a good record in the Grand National, will most likely be on board. In his last two starts he ran superbly to be second to Affordable Fury in the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown and, as prep for Aintree, was fifth in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

OSCARS BROTHER – 16-1
With the two-horse stable of Connor King, who, at 29, is bidding to become the youngest trainer of a National winner. Oscars Brother will be ridden by King’s brother, Daniel. The McManus team saw enough before he won the Ten Up at Navan to step in and buy him before a solid fourth in the Brown Advisory. Was entered in Irish National, but connections have opted instead for Aintree.

QUAI DE BOURBON – 33-1
Even though this Willie Mullins trained 7-year-old stayer is lightly raced over fences and relatively unexposed, he does have experience of competing in large fields. Despite finishing third in last year’s Irish Grand National, he’s a decent price - most probably because he was pulled up in his first two starts this season - and will be running off a competitive weight.

IMPERIAL SAINT – 66-1
Owned by a syndicate put together by former Champion jockey Richard Johnson, who holds the record for most National rides without a victory. He should get the trip and can run on pretty much any ground. Impressed in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock and was available at 100-1 a week ago. Worth an each-way punt.

So those are my four. Whatever you decide to go for, I sincerely hope they bring you luck and, more importantly, get around Aintree safely.

Terence Westbrook - 7 April 2026