Grand National horses from Ireland

I Am Maximus is already an Aintree legend following his victory in the Grand National two years ago and then following that up with second place behind Nick Rockett last year. 

A return to Aintree will undoubtedly be on the cards once again but the ten-year-old son of Authorised has been quite busy this season with three runs in Grade One races in Ireland. The highlight of those runs was finishing runner-up to Affordale Fury in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. That run suggested that all his ability is still there and he looks sure to be a force to be reckoned with once again in the Grand National. 

I Am Maximus still holds an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but that race has not been on his agenda in previous years and it would be a surprise if he was given the green light for that race. Much more likely is that he will turn-up at Aintree a fresh horse, although the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse that he won two years ago, may appeal to connections if they feel they want to get another run into him.

Monty’s Star always promised to be a better chaser than hurdler, despite winning at Grade Three level over the smaller obstacles, and he has run some great races over fences, including when runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival.

That said, Henry De Bromhead’s charge has won only one of his starts over fences to date, a novice chase at Punchestown over two years ago. The ten-year-old gelding finished second in two Grade One chases in his novice year but since then he has found races at the very top level beyond him including when finishing fourth, beaten nearly twenty lengths, in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Monty’s Star has been popular in the early betting market for the 2026 Grand National, presumably because of the good showing of classier horses in the last few Nationals, but Monty’s Star doesn’t seem particularly well handicapped from a mark of 159. He finished well beaten in his only race in a handicap from that exact mark when virtually tailed off in this season’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. Part of this horse’s appeal is down to the feats of his trainer who seems to have perfected the skill of getting a horse to peak for the right race. Obviously the stable won the National five years ago and punters are often attracted to stables who have performed well in the race before. 

Nick Rockett came out on top in last year’s Grand National, leading home a 1-2-3 for master trainer Willie Mullins.

To make the race even sweeter for Mullins, the winner was ridden by his son, Patrick, as they became only the third father and son combination to win the Grand National.

Nick Rockett has yet to appear on the racecourse in the 25/26 season and Mullins has reported that the nine-year-old gelding has encountered some issues that looked like it might stop him from returning to Aintree. However, the situation has improved and Nick Rockett looks likely to make his seasonal reappearance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. From there, all roads should leead back to Aintree.

Captain Cody was a useful bumper and hurdle horse (he won a Grade Two novice hurdle) but his biggest win has come over fences when he won the Scottish National last April. Surprisingly though that is the gelding’s only win over fences to date but there is evidence to suggest that he still might be well handicapped enough to have a live chance in an Aintree Grand National.

Winners of the Scottish National do not have a good recent record when attempting Aintree the following season but this Willie Mullins trained chaser has been giving indications that he still has some scope left in his handicap mark. Over Xmas he was well fancied for the valuable Paddy Power handicap at Leopardstown and his jockey that day, Paul Townend, was extremely frustrated with the start of that race as he felt it handicapped his chances of winning the race (he eventually finished 7^th, beaten less than ten lengths. Captain Cody was then extremely well backed into 7/2 favourite for the Thyestes Chase, another valuable handicap, but only got as far as the fifth fence before falling. Such stable and market confidence for these races suggests that another big win is not that far off for this eight-year-old and whilst his jumping is a cause for concern the fences at Aintree are not the stern test that they used to be.

Captain Cody seems to fall into the category of lightly raced progressive chasers that Willie Mullins has excelled with in the last couple of seasons and this gelding could we be the one to give the master trainer another big win in the Grand National in 2026.