Grand National Runners and Riders Will Be Revealed ‘Early’ in 2026

by Roy Brindley, 16 January 2026

Final declarations for the Randox Grand National will be made 72 hours before this year’s race.

70,000 people attend the Grand National every year. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

• 72-hour declarations introduced ahead of 2026’s Grand National.
• The move brings National in line with the Melbourne Cup and Kentucky Derby.
• Move designed to give jump racing’s biggest contest an even greater build-up.
• 4 pm start time and 34-runner field remains unchanged.

This year, for the first time, the Randox Grand National will feature 72-hour declarations. The change means the final field – runners and riders – for the world’s greatest steeplechase will be official on the Wednesday before the famous Aintree marathon.

A 72-hour declaration stage was introduced for the 2025 Betfred Derby at Epsom last June. In 2026, on April 8, three days before the £1 million Grand National gets underway, the list of the 34 intended runners will be made public.

“We’re really pleased to be able to make the Randox Grand National a 72-hour declaration race from 2026, providing greater clarity for not only participants and racing stakeholders but also fans,” said Aintree Racecourse’s clerk of the course, Sulekha Varma, when the change was announced.

“While the Grand National is now the only UK jumps race to implement this, it also brings us in line with other global races such as the Melbourne Cup and Kentucky Derby. We’re extremely grateful to the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) for their support in helping us make this change,” Varma added.

A Great British Institution and Truly Global Sporting Event

To ensure a full field of 34 runners, the number of reserves for the famous contest, first run in 1839, will rise from four to six. A reserve can be drafted into the race – if one of the confirmed entries is forced to pull out – up until 1 pm on the day before the four-mile two-furlong contest.

Dickon White, the north west regional director of the Jockey Club, owner of Aintree Racecourse, said: “The Grand National is not only a Great British institution, but a truly global sporting event which is broadcast in around 170 countries with a huge audience worldwide.”

“We hope that by introducing 72-hour declarations, we’re able to get people excited about and engaged in the race from an even earlier stage, whether a racing fanatic, someone having their once-a-year flutter, or doing a sweepstake.”

34 Runners and a Betting Highlight

From 2016 until 2024, the Grand National started at 5.15 pm. The off time was changed to 4 pm in 2025. It is a start time that will remain unaltered in 2026. However, the first race on Grand National day 2026 will start at 12.45 pm, 35 minutes earlier than last year.

There are changes to the day’s running order with two Grade-1 races now taking place before the unique chase. Proceedings will end with a Grade-2 National Hunt flat race due off at 5 pm. Last year’s Grand National race day attracted over 70,000 racegoers.

Last year’s Grand National, the 176th running of the race, was won by 33/1 shot Nick Rockett. It was the second successive year the race featured 34 runners, after being a 40-runner contest. Nevertheless, Entain, parent company of Coral, and BetMGM declared it to be the most popular betting event of the year.