The 2027 Grand National is currently scheduled for Saturday, April 10th, 2017 at 16:00 BST. The weights for the world-famous steeplechase will not be published until February, but ante-post betting is already available and it is interesting to see what the leading bookmakers make of the second leg of the traditional ‘Spring Double’ at this early stage.
I Am Maximus, owned by John McManus and trained by Willie Mullins, has already won the Grand National twice, in 2024 and 2026, and finished runner-up to stable companion Nick Rockett in between times, so it is no surprise that the 10-year-old is the early ante-post favourite at a top-priced 12/1. I Am Maximus was already officially rated 168 for his second victory at Aintree, but the 5lb rise in the weights mooted by BHA handicapper Martin Greenwood hardly looks insurmountable and, granted an uninterrupted preparation, the Authorized gelding may yet make further history in 2027.
Next best in the current ante-post list, all at 16/1, come Iroko, Jordans and Soldier In Milan. The first-named is another owned by John McManus and has run creditably on both previous attempts in the Grand National, finishing fourth, when favourite, in 2025 and second, beaten two-and-a-half lengths, in 2026. All his wins, over hurdles and fences, have come at or around two-and-a-half miles, but joint-trainer Josh Guerriero expressed confidence in the eight-year-old, telling the ‘Racing Post’, “We’ll come back and win it next year.”
Jordans, trained by Joseph Patrick O’Brien, made a bold bid to make his first attempt in the Grand National a winning one, taking a clear lead turning for home, but being chased down by the McManus-owned pair in the closing stages. He has just one win over fences to his name, but was twice runner-up in Grade 1 novice chases and, as a seven-year-old, has time on his side as far as the Grand National is concerned.
Soldier In Milan, trained by Emmett Mullins, in another inexperienced seven-year-old, who was, nevertheless, a runaway, 16-length winner of the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in April 2026. His trainer clearly knows what is required to win the Grand National, having done so with the seven-year-old Noble Yeats in 2023, so his progress should be interesting to follow.