14 Withdrawn At Second Scratching Stage For The 2026 Grand National – 55 Remain
I Am Maximus continues to tower over the 2026 Randox Grand National picture after the second scratching stage trimmed the entry list from 69 to 55 for the April 11 showpiece at Aintree Racecourse.
The race, due off at 4:00 over 4m2½f, is edging away from long-range speculation and towards something that looks much more like a final field.
This latest forfeit stage has taken another slice out of the original entry, with fourteen more horses removed from contention and the shape of the race becoming that bit easier to read.
The Grand National has always been a test of planning as much as stamina, and the modern calendar means those plans now revolve around scratching deadlines just as much as schooling sessions over National-style fences.
The second stage lands in that awkward slot between Cheltenham and Fairyhouse, when trainers are weighing up exactly what their horses have left in the tank.
Some will decide that four miles plus around Aintree is still the big spring target; others will quietly accept that a different assignment, perhaps closer to home, makes more sense for both horse and owner.
Who Has Come Out At This Stage
The latest list of withdrawals includes Western Fold, Better Days Ahead, Croke Park, Search For Glory, Intense Raffles, Stolen Silver, Grey Dawning, Handstands, Myretown, Pic Roc, Resplendant Grey, and Gentlemansgame, with Leave of Absence also taken out.
O’Moore Park has dropped out of the equation, having failed to meet the qualification criteria, underlining just how tight the requirements are for a place in the line-up.
Several of those names had the sort of profile that would have made them interesting Aintree runners, but the decision to miss the race is rarely a snap judgement.
Campaigns are mapped out months in advance, and when a horse’s rating, recent form, or physical well-being, does not quite line up with the National’s demands, scratching at this stage can be the sensible option rather than a sign of lost ambition.
Doors Open For Marble Sands And Others
The flip side of those departures is that the picture looks a lot brighter for those further down the weights.
With the maximum field size capped at 34, every horse coming out at this stage nudges another one closer to a guaranteed spot in the final line-up.
For connections perched around the cut-off point, the second scratching stage can feel like a small lottery draw of its own.
This time around, Marble Sands, Final Orders, and Panic Attack are among the horses who now make the cut. In practical terms, that means trainers can plan their preparations with total confidence, should they decide to take their chances at Aintree.
Panic Attack, in particular, looks a fascinating contender now that her place is effectively secured, while Marble Sands and Final Orders shape as the sort of hardy handicappers who could thrive if they take to the fences.
Panic Attack was third in the Mare's Chase, while Final Orders won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, giving both of them lively chances.
Fairyhouse Clash Keeps Things Fluid
Anyone tempted to call the race “nearly set” would be getting ahead of themselves, though.
The next key moment comes on April 6, when the Irish Grand National is run at Fairyhouse, and the next scratching stage for Aintree falls on the same day.
A number of horses still hold dual entries, and that calendar clash will force connections into some tricky choices.
Do they stay closer to home for a valuable staying handicap over conventional fences, or roll the dice on the unique test and global spotlight of Aintree five days later?
Ground forecasts, travel plans, owner preferences, and perceived competitiveness of each race will all come into play.
The upshot is that the Aintree list could easily be pared down further as trainers decide which route suits their horses best – and which entry fee they are prepared to write off.
I Am Maximus Still The Benchmark
At the top of the handicap, nothing has changed: I Am Maximus remains both the top weight and the race favourite.
He heads the weights on 11st 12lb and brings proven National credentials to the table, the sort of staying profile that justifies his position at the head of the market despite the burden he must carry.
He is closely followed in the list by the likes of Nick Rockett and Banbridge on 11st 11lb, along with Grangeclare West and Gerri Colombe just 1lb lower.
That group, plus horses such as Haiti Couleurs, Spillane’s Tower, and L’Homme Presse, ensures there is plenty of class lodged towards the top of the weights.
Aintree Around The Corner
From here, the countdown focuses on that 4:00 off-time on Saturday, 11 April for the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase.
The new 72‑hour declaration system for 2026 adds another layer to the build-up, giving trainers a bit more breathing space but leaving punters to sweat on final fields and jockey bookings for a touch longer.
Between now and then, there will be the usual schooling over National-style obstacles, ground debates, and last‑minute tweaks to riding plans.
For now, though, the second scratching stage has done its job: the list is down to 55, a few familiar names have quietly stepped aside, others like Marble Sands, Final Orders, and Panic Attack have moved into safer territory, and I Am Maximus still casts the longest shadow over a race that is beginning to take clear shape.
BETFRED
