The Grand National is the race that stops the nation, and with Aintree’s famous 4m2f marathon just around the corner, now is the time to get your ante-post positions locked in before the market tightens.
After a strong Cheltenham Festival where several of my Best Bets delivered, I’ve narrowed down three selections for the 2026 Grand National that I genuinely believe carry real each-way value at current prices. I place my racing bets through BC.Game, which offers competitive odds and a smooth betting experience for big-race ante-post markets.
Grand National 2026 Ante-Post Tips & Best Bets
Jagwar (E/W) @ 11.00
I’ll be upfront: I had Iroko on my radar for a long time. Last year’s 4th for the JP McManus camp showed plenty of stamina, and this trip should suit him on paper. But his flat Cheltenham showing took the shine off, and I’ve shifted my attention to stablemate Jagwar, and I think that’s the right call.
Jagwar won over 2m4f earlier this season, and connections clearly felt there was more to come from him at a longer trip. They sent him straight to the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, and he ran an agonising second, making a few jumping errors but staying on strongly in the closing stages. That kind of finish, in that kind of company, tells me he’s built for a marathon.
The 5lb rise in the official ratings is actually a positive here. Grand National weights were published before Cheltenham, so he’s running off a mark that’s 5lb below what the handicapper now thinks he’s worth. That’s a rare advantage in a race where every pound matters.
His jumping isn’t flawless, and I won’t pretend otherwise. But the modified National fences have made life easier for horses with less-than-perfect technique, and I think the risk is manageable at the price.
IGL Recommendation: Jagwar E/W @ 11.00 via BC.Game
Nick Rockett (E/W) @ 21.00
The defending champion has to be in your shortlist, and at 21.00, I think Nick Rockett is still priced generously enough to back.
His 2025 victory was a statement performance, two-and-a-half lengths clear of I Am Maximus, who carried top weight, over the full 4m2f trip. He didn’t just win; he won convincingly. Willie Mullins doesn’t target this race lightly, and a prep run at Down Royal, where he kept on well over 3m2f, suggests the team is following the same seasonal blueprint.
Yes, he runs off a 4lb higher mark this time. But at Aintree, on a course he handles with confidence, I’m willing to take that. Course form in this race matters more than in almost any other, and Nick Rockett has it in abundance.
IGL Recommendation: Nick Rockett E/W @ 21.00 via BC.Game
Gorgeous Tom (E/W) @ 26.00
At the bigger each-way price, Gorgeous Tom is my speculative selection, and I think he’s worth a small stake for place purposes at 26.00.
The eight-year-old has produced some smart chase performances, particularly when stepped up in distance. His 4th in a Grade Three Handicap Chase at Newbury in November caught my eye. He wasn’t disgraced in strong company, and I believe stepping up to the National trip will suit him even more.
Trainer Henry De Bromhead knows what it takes to win at Aintree. He saddled Minella Times to Grand National glory in 2021, and having a handler with that kind of experience in your corner is never a bad thing at this level. At 26.00, you’re not backing a favourite. You’re buying into each-way value with a horse that fits the profile of a deep-staying stayer who could outrun his odds.
IGL Recommendation: Gorgeous Tom E/W @ 26.00 via BC.Game
The Best Final Selections?
The 2026 Grand National ante-post market is still very much open, and I’d encourage getting these bets on before entries and declarations tighten the prices. My main play is Jagwar, with the handicap edge alone making him hard to ignore. Nick Rockett is a must-back for anyone who follows course form, and Gorgeous Tom gives you a legitimate long-shot option with a yard that has a winning pedigree in this race.
For more professional horse racing predictions and analysis, IGL covers major race previews with structured ratings and trend data, a useful resource alongside your own research.
👉Place your ante-post bets via BC.Game to access competitive each-way pricing on all three selections before the market moves.
