He’s Already Won Over the Aintree Fences… Can Twig Shock the Grand National?

If you are searching for an outsider with genuine Aintree form, Twig fits the bill better than most.

At first glance, he is a 33/1 chance carrying 10st 4lb. Look a little closer, and you find an 11-year-old with deep experience, a Becher Chase win over the National fences, and a team who believe there is still more to come.

Nothing about Twig’s path to the 2026 Grand National has been rushed. His place in the line-up has been earned through consistent efforts in staying handicaps, rather than hype or expectation.

Under the care of Ben Pauling and owned by Georgia Morgan, he has built a solid record with multiple victories and several placed efforts, usually in competitive races over three miles or further.

Now aged 11, he has steadily worked his way up the ratings. His ability to carry weight was on show when winning a veterans’ handicap at Sandown in November 2025 under 11st 9lb, which makes his Grand National burden of 10st 4lb look more than fair.

For much of his career, Twig has been seen as a useful, dependable type rather than a headline horse. Over the past year and a half, that view has started to shift, with Aintree becoming a clear target.

His First Run in the Grand National

Twig lined up for his first Grand National in April 2025 and finished 10th under Beau Morgan.

That finishing position may not grab attention, but it told connections what they needed to know. He saw out the trip and coped well with the fences.

For Beau Morgan, riding a horse owned by his mother, it showed that Twig had both the attitude and jumping ability needed for this race. He travelled kindly, jumped well enough throughout, and handled the occasion without issue, all important traits for a National runner at bigger odds.

Reflecting on that run, Pauling said:

“Looking back at the National last season, it was Beau’s first ride in the race, we rode him fairly quietly early doors, and he didn’t lose any ground, he just wasn’t going to make it up.

“If he’s ridden a different way maybe he might be competitive. I’m not saying he’s necessarily the winner, but he’s obviously got a liking for the fences – he hasn’t made a mistake in a National or Becher – and he’d probably go in there a more fancied runner this time anyway.”

Becher Chase Breakthrough

Any hint that Twig was suited to Aintree was confirmed in December 2025. Sent off at 18/1 in the Becher Chase, he returned to the course and produced a career-best effort, getting up to beat Mr Vango by a short head.

Run over 3m2f on soft ground, the race turned into a real test. Twig had to battle late on and showed plenty of resolve to get his head in front close home.

That performance highlighted both his stamina and willingness, and it also put him in line for the William Hill £500,000 bonus, awarded to any horse who wins a key National trial and then follows up in the main race.

66/1 Cut to 33/1

In most early markets, Twig sat around the 66/1 mark. In recent weeks he has been shortened to 33/1 which places him in the middle of the betting.

Which suggest money is coming on for the outsider.

Course form is already proven. He has completed the Grand National and then gone on to win the Becher over the same fences. Many shorter-priced horses still have something to prove in one or more of those areas.

His weight of 10st 4lb places him towards the lower end of the handicap. Given that he has already won carrying 11st 9lb, that figure looks workable.

There is also a human angle that tends to draw interest. Twig is owned by Georgia Morgan and ridden by her son Beau, with Pauling speaking openly about how much the horse means to them as they chase that £500,000 bonus.

It is a strong story, but it is backed up by solid form rather than sentiment alone.

How Strong Is His Chance?

Twig is not among the market leaders, and his odds reflect that. He is not the type to dominate the build-up or feature heavily in every preview.

Still, when you strip things back, his profile begins to stand out.

He has experience of the course, has won over the fences, carries a fair weight, and comes into the race with a campaign built around Aintree. The same jockey partnership remains in place, adding another layer of familiarity.

Backing him is less about chasing a long-shot dream and more about siding with a horse who has already shown he can handle the unique demands of this race.

Whether that will be enough to land the £500,000 bonus and provide a memorable success for Pauling and the Morgan family remains to be seen.

But his record at Aintree, along with his attitude and staying ability, gives just enough reason to think he could run a much bigger race than his odds imply.