When it comes to National Hunt racing, they don’t come much bigger than JP McManus. The Irish billionaire is the most successful owner in the sport’s prestigious history, and a fourth victory at Aintree would make him the outright winning-most owner in Grand National history.
This year, he could once again be well represented among the early favourites for the Grand National, and with several of his entries featuring prominently in the horse racing odds, the question of whether McManus can reclaim the crown feels more pertinent than ever.
McManus first won the Grand National with Don’t Push It in 2010, but it wasn’t until 2021 that win number two arrived — with Rachael Blackmore famously becoming the first female jockey to win the race aboard Minella Times.
His most recent success came in 2024 thanks to I Am Maximus, who gave Willie Mullins his first Grand National victory in two decades. Last year, McManus fielded five runners, three of whom finished in the top five — a remarkable feat in its own right — but second wasn’t quite enough. This spring, the goal is crystal clear: go one better.
Below, we assess some of his leading contenders for 2026.
Iroko
Iroko was campaigned with the Grand National firmly in mind throughout last season by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. His prep runs were encouraging — notably finishing second at Haydock on reappearance and again behind Grey Dawning in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso. Sent off favourite on National day, he could manage only fourth after a mistake at the 25th fence perhaps took away some momentum.
This term has been similarly progressive. Runner-up behind The Jukebox Man (who later landed the King George) before scoring smartly at Ascot, Iroko has returned to the forefront of the ante-post market and looks primed for another bold attempt at the world’s most iconic staying chase.
I Am Maximus
No horse since the immortal Red Rum has regained the Grand National crown after relinquishing it — but I Am Maximus might be the type to give it a real go. The Mullins star won by seven-and-a-half lengths in 2024 and almost repeated the feat under top-weight in 2025, finishing a gallant second to stablemate Nick Rockett.
Now a 10-year-old, he posted a huge run over Christmas in the Savills Chase, finishing runner-up and ahead of dual Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown at 50/1. Age is a concern, with no horse older than nine winning the National since Pineau De Re in 2014, but class counts — and few in the field can match his proven ability over the unique Aintree test.
Inothewayurthinkin
The horse that captured the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup in electrifying fashion, Inothewayurthinkin has the chance to secure a rare place in National Hunt folklore. Only two horses in history have completed the Gold Cup / Grand National double, and Gavin Cromwell’s charge looked tailor–made for the challenge when supplemented into the Gold Cup for £25,000 — going on to defeat Galopin Des Champs with authority.
Connections resisted the temptation to back up at Aintree immediately after that gruelling Cheltenham triumph, but 2026 could be the year they roll the dice. If he does line up, he has legitimate claims of being the most outright talented horse in the race.
Johnnywho
A fourth McManus contender from a fourth separate trainer, Johnnywho highlights just how broad and well–spread the owner’s string truly is across Britain and Ireland. Jonjo and AJ O’Neill have nurtured the nine-year-old steadily, with his top-weight fifth in the Grand Sefton over the National fences offering promise.
He improved for the move up to three miles when narrowly denied in the Silver Cup at Ascot, while his fifth in last year’s Irish Grand National hinted strongly that marathon trips are his calling. Aintree should suit, and he’s a sneaky type who may outrun bigger-priced stable stars.
Can McManus do it again?
On depth alone, McManus will arrive at Aintree with an outstanding hand. Where many owners might be delighted to have one legitimate contender, the green–gold silks could realistically field multiple runners with genuine winning prospects.
Whether that translates to victory is another matter — the Grand National remains the sport’s ultimate puzzle and the landscape changes rapidly as weights, ground, and field shape become clear. But history, firepower, and form all point in one direction: McManus is as well placed as ever.
A fourth win wouldn’t just be a legacy moment — it would cement him as the greatest owner the Grand National has ever known.
