The 2027 Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday 10 April at 4.00pm. The official 2027 handicap weights have not yet been published.

The Grand National is a handicap chase, so the horses carry different weights according to their assessed ability. The weights are an important part of assessing the race, but they do not establish the final field. Horses must still pass through the entry and declaration stages before they can take their places at Aintree.

The maximum field is 34 runners. A horse appearing in the initial weights is therefore not guaranteed a place in the race.

Grand National Weights 2027

The official 2027 Grand National weights are awaiting publication.

The handicapper’s list will establish the weights allocated to the entered horses. It will also help clarify their positions in the handicap, although withdrawals and subsequent declarations will determine which horses eventually run.

Until the official list is released, a horse’s weight in a previous race should not be presented as its 2027 Grand National allocation.

Our Grand National runners and riders page follows the developing field.

When Are the Grand National Weights Announced?

The Grand National weights are published before the final declarations, giving trainers, owners and bettors time to assess the handicap.

The 2026 weights were unveiled on 17 February 2026. The publication date for the 2027 weights has not yet been confirmed.

The initial list can contain substantially more horses than the 34 permitted to start. Some will be withdrawn, while others may not make the final field.

The weights announcement is therefore an important stage in the build-up, but it is not the confirmation of the runners.

How Do Grand National Weights Work?

The handicapper assesses each horse’s ability and assigns it a weight under the race conditions.

Horses considered to have greater ability generally carry more weight. Lower-rated horses receive less weight to help make the contest more competitive.

Handicapping does not give every horse an equal chance of winning. Stamina, jumping, current form, ground conditions and race position remain important.

The Grand National also has its own handicap assessment. A horse’s Grand National rating may differ from its ordinary published chase rating.

Our handicap ratings guide explains the wider system.

What Is the Top Weight in the Grand National?

The top weight is the highest weight allocated in the handicap.

The horse at the top of the weights is not necessarily the favourite, and it is not guaranteed to run.

The initial weights list should also be distinguished from the final racecard. Withdrawals and the race conditions can affect the weights carried by the horses that remain.

For historical comparisons, use the weight a horse actually carried in the race rather than an earlier allocation.

Can Grand National Weights Change Before Race Day?

The initial allocated weight is not always the weight a horse ultimately carries.

The final field and applicable race conditions determine the race-day weights. A horse may also be withdrawn after the handicap is published.

The official declarations and final racecard are the relevant records for the weights carried by the starters.

A historical weights list should retain its original year so it is not mistaken for the current handicap.

How Many Horses Can Run in the Grand National?

The maximum Grand National field is 34 runners.

The limit was reduced from 40 ahead of the 2024 race. Older Grand National results can therefore contain larger fields.

The initial weights list may contain more than 34 horses because it is published before the final declarations.

A horse appearing in the weights is not a confirmed runner. It must remain eligible and make the final field.

Does a Low Weight Help in the Grand National?

A lower weight can help a horse, but it is not a reason to back it on its own.

A lower-rated horse receives less weight because the handicapper assesses it as having less ability than rivals higher in the handicap.

The question is whether that allowance makes it competitive.

A lightly weighted horse still needs to stay the distance, jump accurately and handle the ground. A stronger horse may remain competitive under a higher weight because of its greater ability.

Rigid weight trends can therefore exclude credible contenders.

Can a Horse Win the Grand National Under a High Weight?

Yes. Grand National winners have carried substantial weights.

Red Rum carried 12st when winning in 1974. Many Clouds carried 11st 9lb in 2015. I Am Maximus carried 11st 12lb when winning the 2026 Grand National.

Those results show that a high weight does not prevent a horse from winning. They do not establish that a high weight is an advantage.

The horse’s ability, stamina, jumping and suitability for the conditions still need to be assessed.

Grand National Winning Weights

Previous winners provide useful context for the range of weights that can succeed at Aintree.

Year	Winner	Weight Carried
2026	I Am Maximus	11st 12lb
2025	Nick Rockett	11st 8lb
2024	I Am Maximus	11st 6lb
2023	Corach Rambler	10st 5lb
2022	Noble Yeats	10st 10lb
2021	Minella Times	10st 3lb
2019	Tiger Roll	11st 5lb
2018	Tiger Roll	10st 13lb
2017	One For Arthur	10st 11lb
2016	Rule The World	10st 7lb
2015	Many Clouds	11st 9lb

The Grand National was not run in 2020.

The different winning weights demonstrate why the handicap should be considered alongside the individual horse’s profile.

For more historical results, see our Grand National previous winners page.

2026 Grand National Weights and Runners

The 2026 Grand National took place on Saturday 11 April. The following is the historical declared field and its listed weights, not the entries for 2027.

I Am Maximus headed the field at 11st 12lb and won under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.

No.	Horse	Weight
1	I Am Maximus	11st 12lb
2	Nick Rockett	11st 11lb
3	Banbridge	11st 11lb
4	Grangeclare West	11st 10lb
5	Gerri Colombe	11st 10lb
6	Haiti Couleurs	11st 10lb
7	Spillane’s Tower	11st 8lb
8	Firefox	11st 4lb
9	Monty’s Star	11st 3lb
10	Spanish Harlem	11st 3lb
11	Lecky Watson	11st 2lb
12	Champ Kiely	11st 1lb
13	Iroko	11st 1lb
14	Favori De Champdou	11st 1lb
15	Three Card Brag	11st
16	Oscar’s Brother	10st 13lb
17	Mr Vango	10st 12lb
18	High Class Hero	10st 11lb
19	Stellar Story	10st 11lb
20	Beauport	10st 11lb
21	Captain Cody	10st 10lb
22	Jagwar	10st 10lb
23	Perceval Legallois	10st 9lb
24	Gorgeous Tom	10st 9lb
25	The Real Whacker	10st 9lb
26	Quai De Bourbon	10st 9lb
27	Answer To Kayf	10st 8lb
28	Jordans	10st 8lb
29	Final Orders	10st 5lb
30	Marble Sands	10st 5lb
31	Panic Attack	10st 5lb
32	Top Of The Bill	10st 5lb
33	Johnnywho	10st 4lb
34	Twig	10st 4lb

2026 Grand National Reserves

The original 2026 field also listed the following reserves separately from the initial 34 declared runners.

Reserve Position	Horse	Listed Weight
1	Pied Piper	10st 3lb
2	Imperial Saint	10st 2lb
3	Amirite	10st 2lb
4	Ain’t That A Shame	10st 2lb
5	Deep Cave	9st 13lb
6	Buddy One	9st 12lb

These are historical figures and should not be used to assess the 2027 handicap.

How to Assess Grand National Weights

A horse’s weight matters most when considered alongside the demands of the race.

Stamina

The Grand National covers approximately four miles and two and a half furlongs.

A horse that performs well over three miles may still have something to prove over the longer trip. Assess how strongly it finishes staying chases and whether it has previously carried a comparable weight over a demanding distance.

Jumping

The runners must negotiate 30 jumps on Aintree’s Grand National course.

Mistakes can cost momentum and energy. A horse with a reliable jumping record may be better equipped to cope with the race than one that repeatedly loses ground at its fences.

Our Grand National fences page explains the course.

Ground Conditions

The going affects the stamina required and can influence how comfortably a horse travels.

Compare each runner’s performances on similar ground rather than assuming its best form will transfer to every surface.

Recent Form

A horse’s recent results help establish whether it is performing near its best.

Consider the quality of the opposition, the conditions and how the horse finished. A defeat in a strong staying chase may provide more useful evidence than an easy win against weaker rivals.

Final Declarations

The final field provides information that is unavailable when the initial weights are released.

Confirmed runners, jockey bookings and race-day conditions can all change the assessment. Use the final racecard for the weights each starter carries.

Grand National Weights and Ante-Post Betting

Ante-post betting markets can be available before the weights are announced.

At that stage, a horse’s final weight and participation may be uncertain.

Under ordinary ante-post terms, a bet generally loses if the selected horse does not run. A qualifying non-runner, no bet wager returns the stake if the horse is withdrawn, subject to the bookmaker’s terms.

The publication of the weights provides more information, but it does not confirm the final field.

Our Grand National betting odds page explains the markets and terms.

Grand National Weights FAQs

Have the 2027 Grand National weights been announced?

No. The official 2027 weights have not yet been published.

When is the 2027 Grand National?

The race takes place at Aintree on Saturday 10 April 2027 at 4.00pm.

How many horses can run in the Grand National?

The maximum field is 34 runners.

Why do Grand National horses carry different weights?

The Grand National is a handicap. The handicapper allocates weights according to assessed ability under the race conditions.

Does the top-weighted horse have the best chance?

Not necessarily. Its prospects also depend on stamina, jumping, form, ground and the weight it carries.

Can a horse’s Grand National weight change?

The initial allocation should not be assumed to be the final weight carried. Check the official declarations and racecard.

What weight did I Am Maximus carry when winning in 2026?

I Am Maximus carried 11st 12lb.

What weight did Nick Rockett carry when winning in 2025?

Nick Rockett carried 11st 8lb.

Are horses on the weights list confirmed runners?

No. The weights list is published before the final declarations and can contain more horses than the maximum field.

Summary

The 2027 Grand National weights have not yet been published. The race takes place at Aintree on Saturday 10 April, with a maximum field of 34 runners.

The handicap weights help explain how the horses are assessed, but the initial list is not the confirmed field. Stamina, jumping, current form and ground remain important when comparing runners.

The 2026 weights are retained above as a historical record. For the developing 2027 field, see our Grand National runners and riders page.

Here are all the related articles to the Randox Grand National 2026.