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Grand National: Assessing JP McManus' strong Aintree team

Last Updated: Sat 11 Apr 2026

If your TV screen goes all gold and green during the closing stages of the Randox Grand National on Saturday, then do not be tempted to adjust your sets.

It could be that the world-famous race is dominated by leading owner JP McManus, who has an embarrassment of riches for the £1million showpiece.

Only 34 horses can run in the National these days and six of them will be wearing the silks of McManus. That’s 17.64% of the whole field.

There’s not a weak link among them. They include the favourite,I Am Maximus, while four of his other contenders are also prominent in the betting.

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If the bookmakers have got their sums right, then it’s about Evens that the 75-year-old will again hit the jackpot. And the odds on him having the first two home, which no owner has never been achieved, are not big, either.

Could he go even further? William Hill make him 25-1 to have the first three home.

Meanwhile, Ladbrokes are betting on which of his six will fare best. They make I Am Maximus 5-2 favourite, Jagwar 100-30 and the others 4-1 or bigger.

For what it is worth, I Am Maximus will carry McManus's first colours (green and gold plus a white cap), with the other five wearing different coloured caps to help distinguish them. Let's just hope they don't get dislodged!

McManus has already landed the National a record-equalling three times, although he’d been trying to win it for 28 years before Don’t Push It, ridden by AP McCoy, gave him his first success in 2010.

Minella Times, partnered by Rachael Blackmore, gave him a second in 2021, with I Am Maximus providing a third in 2024. Here’s how his runners for Saturday shape up.

No 1 I AM MAXIMUS

Age: 10. Weight: 11st 12lb. Odds: 8-1.

I Am Maximus was full of beans after his 2024 success (INPHO/Ben Brady)

The superb 2024 winner again gave his all when runner-up last year. He’s young enough to give it another good go, although the last top-weight to prevail/retain his crown was the mighty Red Rum in 1974.

He’s not got his head in front since his victory two years ago, but showed all his powers were intact when runner-up in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. He’s a relentless stayer and so softer ground would probably play more to his strengths, but that is unlikely even with the course executive putting plenty of water on the track.

Paul Townend has ridden him for the past two years and is staying loyal to him.His overall record on him is 22112.

No 13 IROKO

Age: 8. Weight: 11st 1lb. Odds: 12-1.

His fine fourth last year needs marking up as he ended up further back than ideal in the first half of the race before staying on stoutly.

He was as short as 7-1 after his first two runs this season went to plan, but he’s been pushed out in the betting after a below-par run at Cheltenham last time. That was out of character for him, and he subsequently scoped “dirty”, so it will be no surprise if he is back in the groove.

Jonjo O’Neill Jr has ridden him in 13 of his 16 races and will again be on board.

No 16 OSCARS BROTHER

Age: 8. Weight: 10st 13lb. Odds: 16-1.

The novice, Oscars Brother, in full flow (Healy Racing)

The novice has yet to run a bad race over fences, enhancing his reputation when a keeping-on fourth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last time.

His jumping may not be the most fluent, but he looks a thorough stayer and the longer trip here may unlock further improvement. He was also entered in the Irish Grand National, but McManus wanted him in his Aintree pack.

Daniel King, brother of trainer Connor, has ridden Oscar’s Brother in each of his 15 starts under Rules and McManus stays loyal to him, even though he has never ridden at Aintree before.

No 22 JAGWAR

Age: 7. Weight: 10st 10lb. Odds: 10-1.

He wasn’t qualified for the race until his near-miss in the Ultima last time, when he might well have won but for a bad blunder at the eighth fence.

Overall, his jumping has been solid, helping him put together a sequence of excellent efforts at Cheltenham. The trip is a big question mark for him, but he generally finishes his races off well, over shorter, and is 5lb well in

Mark Walsh, McManus’s No 1 rider, at least for a few more weeks, was aboard at Cheltenham last time and that getting-to-know-you session will not be lost on him.

No 23 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS

Age: 9. Weight: 10st 9lb. Odds: 40-1.

He’s the weak link among the McManus team according to the bookmakers, but it would be folly to discount him, especially with Harry Cobden, soon to be No 1 rider for the owner, taking over in the saddle.

It’s easy to forget that he was a well-fancied 10-1 chance for last year’s renewal, only to fall at the ninth fence. His two runs this season have been nothing to shout about, but two anonymous runs this term and is worth a second look at much bigger odds than 12 months ago.

No 33 JOHNNYWHO

Weight: 10st 4lb. Odds: 16-1.

They might have to rename him Johnnywahoo if he prevails.

He’s 6lb well in at the weights after landing the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time, having been a good second at that meeting 12 months earlier.

That success last time came after he’d had a breathing operation, plus being equipped with cheekpieces. Neither clearly did him any harm, while he got a sighter of Aintree when fifth in the Grand Sefton earlier in the season.

Ritchie McLernon guided him to glory last time and is back on board.

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