Aintree Festival 2026: Horses to Watch This Week

18+ Only | GambleAware.org | Please Bet Responsibly

The Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse stands as one of the most iconic meetings in the National Hunt calendar. Each April, three days of elite racing bring together the sport’s biggest names, with careers defined and legends made on one of racing’s most famous stages. 

During festival week, Aintree becomes the centre of the jump racing world. The atmosphere is electric, building throughout the card and peaking with the world renowned Grand National, where the famous fences test even the most experienced runners.

The 2026 edition promises plenty of intrigue. Several of the feature races look wide open, with emerging talent set to challenge established stars, while the ever-present Britain versus Ireland rivalry adds another compelling narrative across the three days. 

With prize money continuing to rise, leading trainers from both sides of the Irish Sea will arrive with strong teams. Aintree, while flatter than Cheltenham, still demands a blend of speed, stamina and accurate jumping particularly over the National fences.

Horses that arrive in form and proven at the trip often hold a crucial edge.

Here are my top three horses to watch.

Horse to Watch #1: Lets Go Champ

Race: Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase

Time: 15:30

Day: Thursday

Selection: Lets Go Champ

Lets Go Champ comes into this race with a profile that suggests he could outrun his odds in a competitive field. Proven stamina is key at Aintree, and the flatter course should play to his strengths. If he can get into a good rhythm early, Lets Go Champ should be in contention as they turn in for home.

About the Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase

Run over approximately 2 miles and 5 furlongs, the Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase is a steeplechase exclusively for amateur riders, open to horses aged six years or older. 25 runners are set to tackle this year’s chase.

It holds a rare distinction at the Aintree Festival: one of only three races run over the famous Grand National fences, alongside the Topham Chase and the Grand National itself.

Credit Call is the standout horse with three wins in 1972, 1975 and 1976, while Sam Waley-Cohen leads the jockey standings with three wins. The most recent winner is Gracchus De Balme, trained by Joe O’Shea and ridden by Huw Edwards.

Horse to Watch #2: Grey Dawning

Race: Melling Chase

Time: 15:30

Day: Friday

Selection: Grey Dawning

Grey Dawning brings one of the strongest pieces of recent form into this race and looks well suited by Aintree’s flatter track. He’s proven over a similar trip and has shown the ability to travel strongly off a good pace. With solid jumping and consistency, he ticks both the form and distance boxes, making him a leading contender.

About the Melling Chase

Run over roughly 2 miles and 4 furlongs and with 16 fences, the Melling Chase is a Grade 1 steeplechase open to horses aged five years or older.

It regularly attracts top-class two-mile and two-and-a-half-mile chasers stepping back up from Cheltenham, with runners fresh from the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase often featuring in the lineup.

Nicky Henderson leads the trainers' table with five wins, and Jonbon - trained by Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville - won back-to-back in 2024 and 2025. With four wins, two with Moscow Flyer in 2004 and 2005, jockey Barry Geraghty holds the record in the saddle.

Horse to Watch #3: I Am Maximus

Race: Randox Grand National

Time: 16:00

Day: Saturday

Selection: I Am Maximus

The Grand National is all about stamina and jumping, and I Am Maximus fits the profile well. He has winning form over marathon trips and has shown he can handle testing conditions. His ability to stay strongly and maintain rhythm over fences makes him a solid each-way play in a race where proven endurance is key.

About the Randox Grand National

Taking place over approximately 4 miles and two-and-a-half furlongs, the Randox Grand National is a handicap steeplechase where horses jump 30 fences (14 fences jumped twice, remaining two jumped once) over two laps.

Some of these fences – Belcher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn – are more instantly recognisable than others. They combine with the distance to create what many consider the ultimate test of horse and rider.

34 runners are taking part in this year’s run, down from 40 following measures introduced in 2024 to improve safety.

This is the event that Red Rum dominated, winning in 1973, 1974 and 1977 and cementing himself as one of the sport's most celebrated runners. More recently, Nick Rockett, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Patrick Mullins, won the 2025 Grand National.

Aintree Going & Weather Conditions

Going: Mildmay Chase and Hurdle: Good to Soft; National: Good to Soft (last updated: 10:56 a.m., 9 April 2026, source: thejockeyclub.co.uk).

Weather conditions: Light showers, temperatures around 10°C with light westerly winds at around 15mph (last updated: 12 p.m., 9 April 2026, source: Met Office).

Analysis by Tom Kimsey

Tom Kimsey is part of the Sportsbook team here at Bally’s and has 10+ years of experience analysing sports.

This content represents his personal analytical opinion based on publicly available information. It does not constitute betting advice or prediction of outcomes. All horse racing involves significant uncertainty and risk. All references to form, conditions or performance are descriptive only and do not indicate expected outcomes.

Summary

This article presents our employee's selections based on publicly available form and observations. All three selections represent horses that, in our employee's view, merit consideration based on their profiles and recent performances. However, the Cheltenham Festival features highly competitive fields across all races, and outcomes remain uncertain. Readers considering any wagers should:

• Review current odds and markets independently

• Consider small stakes to manage risk

• Remember that all racing involves unpredictability and significant risk of loss

• Set personal limits before the festival begins

Data Verification

Going information: Cheltenham.co.uk official going reports (accessed at times noted above) Weather forecasts: Met Office, accessed 10:00 a.m. on respective race days

Note: Going and field information may change throughout the festival. Please check current conditions and markets before placing any bets. In the event of a non-runner, please refer to our terms and conditions regarding affected bets.

IMPORTANT GAMBLING INFORMATION

This article does not constitute betting advice or any guarantee of outcomes. Horse racing is unpredictable, and all bets carry significant risk of loss.

• Only bet what you can afford to lose

• Consider small stakes and each-way options to manage risk

• Set deposit limits and time limits on your account

• Never chase losses

• Take regular breaks from gambling

• Gambling can be addictive - seek help if you need it