The Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup are the twin peaks of British jump racing, but they ask very different questions of a horse.
The Gold Cup is the blue‑riband Grade 1 test of class and controlled aggression over 3m2½f at Cheltenham, demanding pace, accuracy, and the ability to quicken off a strong gallop.
The Grand National, almost a month later at Aintree, stretches horses over 4m2½f and a unique set of fences, turning it into a marathon of stamina and sheer grit.
For 2026, those two worlds collide more than usual. 17 horses currently hold entries in both races, giving trainers a fascinating tactical puzzle and racing fans a few weeks of guessing games.
It is rare enough for a horse to be good enough to be considered for one of these prizes; to be in the conversation for both says plenty about the depth of this generation of staying chasers.
The 17 Dual‑entered Horses, And Where They Might Go
Almost none of the 17 horses will run in both races, and the last to attempt it was Corach Rambler, who won the Grand National in 2023.
The following year, he went for the Gold Cup, where he went off at 14/1 in the Cheltenham Festival betting, finished in third place. Just four weeks later, trainer Lucinda Russell sent him to Aintree, where he unseated his rider at the first fence.
Given that few trainers are willing to take that risk in 2026, here is the full list of all the horses entered into both races, with a general idea of which option connections will choose.
- Banbridge
- Firefox
- Grangeclare West
- Grey Dawning
- Haiti Couleurs
- Handstands
- I Am Maximus
- Impaire Et Passe
- L’Homme Presse
- Lecky Watson
- Monty’s Star
- Myretown
- Nick Rockett
- Resplendent Grey
- Spillane’s Tower
- Stellar Story
- Three Card Brag
Between them, they cover almost every type of staying chaser: classy Grade 1 operators, hardened handicappers, and a couple who still look like unfinished projects.
Some have profiles that scream Gold Cup. Grey Dawning is already a top‑class staying chaser for Dan Skelton and sits prominently in Gold Cup discussions, with his strong, attacking style well suited to Cheltenham’s New Course.
L’Homme Presse, a high‑class winner around Cheltenham in the past, has long been seen as a championship‑race horse first and a National type only if things go slightly sideways.
Banbridge looks more of a speed‑leaning Grade 1 chaser, and you would not be shocked if connections kept Aintree as a “nice option” rather than the main mission.
Others feel made for Aintree. Haiti Couleurs, from Rebecca Curtis, has already advertised his stamina with huge wins in both the Irish and Welsh Nationals, and looks tailor‑made for Aintree.
Stellar Story and Three Card Brag, from Gordon Elliott’s powerful yard, also fit the National profile: strong stayers with a touch of class, but not obviously the sharp, all‑round package you usually need for a modern Gold Cup.
Then there are the true “either/or” horses. I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett, the last two Grand National winners, both hold Gold Cup entries for Willie Mullins, reflecting just how versatile they are.
Myretown and Resplendent Grey, progressive types for Lucinda Russell/Michael Scudamore and Olly Murphy, respectively, sit in that same grey area: good enough to be considered for graded company, but with handicaps and long‑distance options still in play.
The rest are genuine juggling acts for their trainers, and as ever, fitness, ground, and how they train at home will decide more than any February theorising.
Horses That Conquered Both Races
Winning either the Gold Cup or the Grand National is enough to define a career; doing both is the stuff of legends, which is why only a small handful have pulled off the double in modern jumping history.
The most famous is Golden Miller, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup five times in the 1930s and added a Grand National in 1934, setting a record weight‑carrying performance in the process.
L’Escargot, a dual Gold Cup winner in the early 1970s, later came back to Aintree to beat the great Red Rum in the 1975 National, underlining how rare the gears and grit required for both races really are.
In more recent times, we’ve seen plenty of horses try to mix the two calendars, but the double remains an exception rather than a trend.
Corach Rambler: The Modern Template
As mentioned above, Corach Rambler is the most recent runner to attempt the double in the same season.
He first made his name with back‑to‑back wins in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in 2022 and 2023, a race that has become a well‑worn stepping stone to the Grand National.
In April 2023, he produced a trademark late rattle to win the Grand National to deliver Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox another famous Aintree success.
The following season, connections aimed higher still: he went to the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, running a huge race to finish third behind Galopin Des Champs and Gerri Colombe, proving he belonged at the very top table.
After that, he returned to Aintree to attempt a repeat National win, but that second tilt did not come off, underlining just how hard it is to retain the world’s most demanding handicap chase.
Dates, Decisions, And Anticipation
For now, everything is still on paper. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is scheduled for Friday 13 March 2026 at 4:00pm, the centrepiece of the final day of the Festival.
The Grand National follows on Saturday, 11 April 2026 at Aintree, again in the 4:00pm slot, giving just under a month between the two great races.
In the coming weeks, declarations, trial races, and the odd training setback will whittle down those 17 dual‑entered horses to the handful that actually line up at either venue.
Owners will weigh dreams against pragmatism; trainers will quietly eye the ground forecasts and news; bettors will claim they “always knew” where a horse was going the moment it’s finally confirmed.
In the meantime, the fun for racing fans lies in the guessing: which of these talented chasers will chase Gold Cup glory, who will roll the dice over the National fences, and is there even a Golden Miller‑style all‑time great lurking in this crop?
