Panic Attack Favored in 2026 Grand National

Anticipation builds at Aintree Racecourse for the 2026 Randox Grand National on Saturday, where 34 horses will tackle the iconic four-mile, two-furlong steeplechase starting at 4:00 p.m. BST. Leading the market at 7-1 odds, Panic Attack, a 10-year-old mare trained by Dan Skelton, stands poised to end a 75-year wait for a female winner in the event, last achieved by Nickel Coin in 1951.

Panic Attack has surged in popularity among bettors after a standout season, including victories in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November 2025 and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury weeks later, followed by a third-place finish in the Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Her jockey, Harry Skelton, Dan's brother, will guide her from a weight of 9 stone 13 pounds. "She has all the qualities needed: great temperament, she jumps well, and she'll handle the ground and the occasion," Dan Skelton said. He added that the long absence of a mare winner signals one is due soon, expressing excitement rather than nerves ahead of the race, which he called "the most exciting of the year."

The withdrawal of defending champion Nick Rockett on Thursday due to illness has reshaped the field,...