Six of the last seven Grand Nationals have been won by Irish-trained horses, with only Lucinda Russell sparing Britain further blushes through One For Arthur in 2017 and Corach Rambler in 2023.
Willie Mullins is seeking a third consecutive victory, but with Grand National odds reflecting an unusually competitive field for the 2026 renewal, the Britain versus Ireland narrative has rarely felt so evenly balanced. So, who has the edge?
The Irish hand
Ireland’s dominance of the race in recent years is hard to overstate, and the depth of their 2026 squad makes another home victory entirely plausible.
I Am Maximus heads the Irish contingent as second favourite and arguably the most compelling horse in the race on ability alone. The 10-year-old won in 2024 and was a gallant second last year despite shouldering top weight, producing one of the great modern Grand National performances. He faces the same burden again this spring and must defy history to win, but his Aintree record is without parallel in the current field.
Third-favourite Grangeclare West offers a less complicated route to the frame. Brian Hayes’s regular partner has grown into a serious National horse, finishing third at 33/1 last year and arriving at Aintree this time around on the back of a Bobbyjo Chase victory. His weight of 11st 10lb is more manageable than I Am Maximus, and his profile suggests he will stay every yard of the trip.
Monty’s Star, joint-fifth favourite for Henry De Bromhead, rounds out the Irish challenge at the top of the market. He has been outclassed in Grade 1 company this season, but a switch to a big-field handicap on the National fences could suit his profile rather better, and De Bromhead has a strong record of getting horses primed for Aintree.
The British hand
Britain provides the favourite in Iroko, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero in Cheshire. The eight-year-old was fourth at Aintree last year under Jonjo O’Neill Jr. and has had a wind operation since, with his return to action at Ascot in December highly encouraging. He lines up at around 7/1 and carries genuine claims as a horse who has already shown he handles the National fences and stays the trip.
Fourth-favourite, Haiti Couleurs, trained by Rebecca Curtis in Wales and ridden by Sean Bowen, arrives as one of the most in-form horses in the field. The eight-year-old has already won both the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals in the last year.
Joint-fifth favourite Panic Attack completes Britain’s leading trio. The Dan Skelton-trained 10-year-old has been outstanding this season, winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Gold Cup at Newbury, and Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings place her at the top of the entire field. Harry Skelton has ridden her with exceptional confidence throughout.
When it comes to Grand National 2026 predictions, the top of the market is genuinely split. Three of the top five in the betting are British-trained, which is unusual given the extent of Irish dominance in recent years. Iroko, Haiti Couleurs, and Panic Attack all carry legitimate winning claims, and the British camp has not looked this strong at the head of the market in a decade.
That said, the depth of the Irish challenge tells its own story. Once you move beyond the top five, the Irish take over almost entirely, with defending champion Nick Rockett, the experienced Gerri Colombe, and a host of Irish entries among the next 10 horses in the market.
Britain may have quality at the top, but Ireland has quality and quantity throughout. On balance, the advantage lies fractionally with the Irish, but this year, perhaps more than any other in recent memory, the British have every right to feel optimistic.
