Thyestes Chase winner Now Is The Hour, French Dynamite and Blaze The Way joined expected absentee L’Homme Presse in not being left in the Randox Grand National at Monday’s confirmation stage.

With a final field of 34 due to face the starter, Ben Pauling’s Twig is now due to take the last spot if all those above him run.

Willie Mullins is responsible for 10, with nine guaranteed a run, including the last two winners of the Aintree spectacular in I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett. Also part of the Closutton team is Bobbyjo Chase winner and last year’s third Grangeclare West and Spanish Harlem, who is owned by Dr Peter Fitzgerald, managing director of the race sponsors.

Haiti Couleurs, already the winner of the Irish and Welsh Nationals, will bid for a unique slice of turf history, while Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack will attempt to become the first mare to win since Nickel Coin in 1951.

Gavin Cromwell has seen his team reduced, however, with Now Is The Hour suffering an untimely setback.

Speaking to William Hill, Cromwell said: “Unfortunately, Now Is The Hour is out for the rest of the season and he’ll be taken out of the Grand National at the forfeit stage today.

“He’s had a great season, winning the Thyestes and running well at Cheltenham, and it’s a real shame for everyone because having a runner in the Grand National is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the owners.

“Final Orders and Perceval Legallois are both in good order and will be confirmed.”

A total of 49 horses remain in contention, with top-weight I Am Maximus now clear favourite at 6/1 with Paddy Power to become the first horse to regain the Grand National crown after losing it since the great Red Rum, who of course won three renewals between 1973 and 1977.

His stablemate Grangeclare West is a 10/1 shot, as is the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained Jagwar.

Haiti Couleurs is 14/1 alongside Iroko, who finished fourth as the 13/2 favourite 12 months ago for the Greenall-Guerriero combination.

RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL

4.00pm, Aintree, Saturday 11th April 2026

Current Going (Grand National Course: Good to Soft, Good in places

1 I Am Maximus (FR) 10 11 12 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

2 Nick Rockett (IRE) 9 11 11 Stewart & Sadie Andrew W. P. Mullins Ireland

3 Banbridge (IRE) 10 11 11 Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

4 Grangeclare West (IRE) 10 11 10 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

5 Gerri Colombe (FR) 10 11 10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland

6 Haiti Couleurs (FR) 9 11 10 Conyers, McDermott and Prowting Rebecca Curtis

7 Spillane's Tower (IRE) 8 11 8 Mr John P. McManus James Joseph Mangan Ireland

8 Firefox (IRE) 8 11 4 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

9 Monty's Star (IRE) 9 11 3 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland

10 Spanish Harlem (FR) 8 11 3 Dr S. P. Fitzgerald W. P. Mullins Ireland

11 Lecky Watson (IRE) 8 11 2 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

12 Champ Kiely (IRE) 10 11 1 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Ireland

13 Iroko (FR) 8 11 1 Mr John P. McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

14 Favori de Champdou (FR) 11 11 1 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

15 Three Card Brag (IRE) 9 11 0 McNeill Family/Patrick & Scott Bryceland Gordon Elliott Ireland

16 Oscars Brother (IRE) 8 10 13 Mr John P. McManus Connor King Ireland

17 Mr Vango (IRE) 10 10 12 Cracker and Smodge Partnership Sara Bradstock

18 High Class Hero 9 10 11 Sullivan Group Ltd/P. Crowley/N. Hughes W. P. Mullins Ireland

19 Stellar Story (IRE) 9 10 11 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

20 Beauport (IRE) 10 10 11 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies

21 Captain Cody (IRE) 8 10 10 V Caldwell/A Shamoon/Mrs A Shamoon Ibgi W. P. Mullins Ireland

22 Jagwar (FR) 7 10 10 Mr John P. McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

23 Perceval Legallois (FR) 9 10 9 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland

24 Gorgeous Tom (IRE) 8 10 9 Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd Henry de Bromhead Ireland

25 The Real Whacker (IRE) 10 10 9 Neville, Mann, Duffus & Dennis-Price Patrick Neville

26 Quai de Bourbon (FR) 7 10 9 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

27 Answer To Kayf 10 10 8 Mr Denis A. O'Connor Terence O'Brien Ireland

28 Jordans (FR) 7 10 8 Cheeky Pups Syndicate Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

29 Final Orders 10 10 5 C. M. D. Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland

30 Marble Sands (FR) 10 10 5 DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

31 Panic Attack (IRE) 10 10 5 Bryan Drew Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

32 Top of The Bill (IRE) 10 10 5 Mr Charlie Walker Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

33 Johnnywho (IRE) 9 10 4 Mr John P. McManus Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill

34 Twig 11 10 4 Mrs G. Morgan Ben Pauling

35 Pied Piper 8 10 3 Mrs M. Roden & Mrs R. Nolan Gordon Elliott Ireland

36 Imperial Saint (FR) 8 10 2 Richard Johnson Racing Imperial Saint Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

37 Amirite (IRE) 10 10 2 Patrick Hale Henry de Bromhead Ireland

38 Ain't That A Shame (IRE) 12 10 2 Eventmasters Racing Tom Ellis

39 Yeah Man (IRE) 9 10 1 Mr J. J. Brennan Gavin Cromwell Ireland

40 Soul Icon 9 10 1 This time next year maybe Keiran Burke

41 Hyland (FR) 9 10 1 The Ten From Seven Nicky Henderson

42 Deep Cave (IRE) 8 9 13 Sue Howell Christian Williams

43 Buddy One (IRE) 9 9 12 E. Lynch/T.C.Quinn/John J. McGrath Paul John Gilligan Ireland

44 Anyway (GER) 8 9 11 K. Haughey/Kieran T. Byrne David Kenneth Budds Ireland

45 The Short Go (IRE) 9 9 10 Mr N. Byrne Henry de Bromhead Ireland

46 Weveallbeencaught (IRE) 9 9 9 Tadhg Moynihan Eric McNamara Ireland

47 Shanbally Kid (IRE) 9 9 9 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

48 Will Do (IRE) 9 9 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

49 In d'Or (FR) 8 9 7 Mrs J. May Fergal O'Brien

49 confirmations

32 Irish-trained

Paddy Power: 6 I Am Maximus, 9 Jagwar, 10 Grangeclare West, Johnnywho, 12 Iroko, 14 Haiti Couleurs, Nick Rockett, Oscars Brother, Panic Attack, 16 Captain Cody, Montys Star, 20 Gorgeous Tom, Jordans, Spillane’s Tower, 25 Final Orders, Quai De Bourbon, Stellar Story, 33 Favori De Champdou, Gerri Colombe, Lecky Watson, Perceval Legallois, Spanish Harlem, 40 bar

1/5 odds, 5 places each-way