The 2026 Grand National is wide open in the betting again this year.The recent changes to the National next month is a key factor in that, with better jumpers and higher-rated horses entered.The Grand National is a spectacle like no other and favourites have come to the fore plenty of times in recent yearsGettytalkSPORT BET Betting Offer – Get up to £35 matched if your first best loses – CLAIM HERE*There seems to be an army of green and gold set to be the favourites for the national this year, not just Irish-trained horses but also plenty owned by JP McManus.The owner had a phenomenal Cheltenham Festival last week scooping four winners, including two birthday winners on day one of the meeting.He of course owns the 2024 Grand National winner, I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins.Mullins has dominated jumps racing for a few years now and he too enjoyed another haul of winners at Cheltenham.Getting eight winners at the festival made him the leading trainer for the eighth year in a row and 13 times in total.So it’s no surprise that he too trains a few of the leading contenders of this year’s Grand National.Who’s favourite to win the Grand National 2026?I Am Maximus has gone on to be clear favourite in the Grand National ante post market.While some prices vary, Jagwar is next in line as McManus owns four of the top five in Grand National betting and there’s not much scope for that to change much in the lead up to the Aintree Festival.Mullins trains two of the horses set to be battling it out to be the favourite of the National.The following four are clear ahead of the rest of the field currently entered into the jumps showpiece and their odds could be shortened even further.Grangeclare West (right) managed to place third in last year’s Grand NationalGettyGrangeclare West – Willie Mullins, Cheveley Park StudThis horse hasn’t had the best form since running at Aintree, but did win last time out at Fairyhouse to justify his strong position in the antepost market.Any horse that finishes within three lengths of the winner in the Grand National will be of major interest in following renewals.This ten-year-old trained by Mullins is set to contend with stablemate and last year’s second place I Am Maximus in the betting.He’s a horse that has constantly bumped into top rivals which has meant he’s only won three chases from 12 attempts.Two of those chase victories occurred in his first two races over fences while he finally managed to win again, last time out.If Paul Townend choose this horse to saddle up on, you can see him being the favourite by the off. I Am Maximus has a wealth of Grand National experience with a win and second place finishGettyI Am Maximus – Willie Mullins, JP McManusIt wouldn’t be a surprise to see this horse shortened into single figures in the betting.He went off as the 7/1 joint-favourite in 2024 and went off the same price in 2025 when placing second.Last year’s Grand National saw Mullins land a sensational 1-2-3 and he even trained four runners who ended up finishing in the top five.Nick Rockett, I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West finished incredibly close together in yet another dramatic race to the line.This horse is ten-years-old now and there hasn’t been a winner of the national over the age of nine since 2014 when 11-year-old Pineau De Re emerged ahead.The horse will also have to win being the top-weight as the highest rated in the field – though that didn’t stop him from going close last year.Iroko – Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerrerio, JP McManusThis horse was a short price and the favourite for the 2026 Grand National before Cheltenham Festival.But his below par run in the Ultima has seen his odds drift massively.That said, last year’s 13/2 National favourite is still in the leading pack.He carries 9lb less than Grangeclare West but still 4lb more than last year.It could well be that this drift in the odds is actually a huge favour to those re-backing Iroko, as his poor run at Cheltenham might have just been an off day.His consistency last year over fences is a testament to his ability and whenever there’s a test of stamina horses are just animals, they can’t always be finish in the top three.You really wouldn’t want to rule out this horse based on his run at Cheltenham, especially after his fourth-placed finish in the 2025 Grand National.Jagwar – Jonjo O’Neill & AJ O’Neill, JP McManusThere could be a sea of green and gold approaching the final fence or furlong at Aintree on April 11 this year.This is yet another horse owned by McManus who’s got the potential to not only be amongst the favourite in the betting, but also to win the Grand National.He’s been tipped in the antepost and it would be likely that his price shortens as the big race approaches.The seven-year-old is going to be running with a bit of a weight advantage, carrying just 10-10 off his overall rating of 152.And his actual rating of 157 as a result of his second place finish in the Ultima at Cheltenham Festival doesn’t affect the weights already in place for the Grand National.This is a similar route to the one Corach Rambler took, when he bolted up in the Ultima he too escaped any rise in the weights and could make the most of his low mark.Jagwar is just seven-years-old and that means he’s still not raced much over fences, just eight times.But he’s won four now and went incredibly close to Johnnywho in the Ultima, which was his first run over 3m+.That new trip clearly suited and his pedigree points to being suited even more with these stamina tests.He’s an exciting prospect who has always been billed as a horse to watch out for.Grand National 2026: OddsGrangeclare West – 9/1I Am Maximus – 9/1Iroko – 10/1Jagwar – 12/1Montys Star – 16/1Johnnywho – 16/1Panic Attack – 16/1Oscars Brother – 16/1Gerri Colombe – 20/1Nick Rockett – 20/1Haiti Couleurs – 20/1Captain Cody – 20/1View full list of Grand National 2026 odds on talkSPORT BETGrand National 2026: Key declaration datesThe following are the next stages for the 2026 renewal at Aintree scheduled for April 11 at 4pm.February 11: Weights announced.March 3: First scratchings deadline (12pm)March 24: Second scratchings deadline (12pm)April 6: Final confirmations (12pm)April 8: Final declarations (10am)talkSPORT BET Boosted Favourites30 minutes before the start of every UK & IRE race, we are boosting either the favourite or 2nd fav to win!Get the latest price boosts here18+. Bet on a Price Boost market for specific horse race & if your selection wins, we’ll pay out at the boosted odds. Max benefit applies. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.orgTom Lunn’s Horse Racing Profit & LossMarch ’26: +11.31ptsFrom October ’25: +38.46ptsFrom March ’25: +109.76ptsFrom Oct ’23: +419.61ptsAll odds correct at time of writingtalkSPORT BET Betting Offer – Get up to £35 matched if your first best loses – CLAIM HERE*Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.orgRemember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGambleAware – www.gambleaware.orgFind our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.*18+ New Customers. Opt in and bet up to £35 on Horse Racing (odds 2/1+) within 7 days. If your first bet loses get your initial stake back, up to £35 in Free Bets for any sports. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly