Last year’s winner Nick Rockett has been withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand National at Aintree.
Nick Rockett – trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick – finished two-and-a-half lengths clear of 2024 winner I Am Maximus 12 months ago, but has been declared a non-runner having been reported to be coughing.
He was attempting to become just the second back-to-back winner since Red Rum was a triple champion in the 1970s.
When the 2026 field was announced on Wednesday, Patrick had opted to ride last year’s third-placed horse Grangeclare West instead, with Tom Bellamy surprisingly picking up the ride on Nick Rockett.
First reserve Pied Piper, who is trained by three-time winner Gordon Elliott, has taken the spare place in the 34-runner field.
I Am Maximus is the 7-1 favourite for the race, but will have to become the first top weight to win the race since Red Rum in 1974.
He will be ridden by Paul Townend for the third year in a row – one of eight Mullins-trained horses now in the field – as he looks to become the first trainer to win the race in three successive years since Vincent O’Brien between 1953 and 1955.
Townend finished second to 33-1 chance Nick Rockett in last year’s race, when Mullins horses claimed the first three positions.
The Grand National starts at 16:00 BST on Saturday.