Paul Nicholls Grand National 2026 Runners: Horses, Runners, Races & Chances Preview

Paul Nicholls won the Grand National in 2012 with the grey Neptune Collonges. He does not have a runner this year but has enjoyed enormous success at the meeting over the years. Nicholls has won the Betway Bowl on six occasions, the Melling Chase four times, the Liverpool Hurdle four times and the Aintree Hurdle once. Big Buck’s was responsible for all four Liverpool Hurdle wins.

The stable also has a terrific record in the novice events, notably a remarkable nine victories in the Maghull Novices Chase. Kalif Du Berlais was successful in that event twelve months ago with the yard also claiming the Mildmay Novices Chase with Caldwell Potter.

Paul Nicholls Grand National day runners

Absolutely Doyen the only Paul Nicholls Grand National day entry

Absolutely Doyen will be the stable’s sole representative on Grand National day. He runs in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle after his five-race winning sequence came to an end in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival. Handicap victories at Ascot, Wincanton and Musselburgh resulted in his handicap mark being raised by 20lbs over the course of this season. It was always going to be difficult to defy a further increase in such a competitive race at Cheltenham but he was not disgraced in eighth place.

He stayed on gamely after being outpaced approaching the second last flight. He is likely to renew rivalry with several of those who finished ahead of him, including winning favourite Supremely West. Absolutely Doyen will be 9lbs better off and has eight lengths to make up with the winner.  This course might be a bit more to his liking and he could have each-way claims in a very competitive race.

Paul Nicholls Best Aintree Festival Chances

Pourquoi Das Papa bids to boost Paul Nicholls Aintree Festival record

Pourquoi Das Papa was given three entries at the Aintree Grand National and the chosen target is the Aintree Debenhams Handicap Hurdle (two miles) on Friday. He finished a very creditable fourth in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival behind Saratoga.

That was a fine effort in a very competitive 22-runner field and he may have finished closer but for being checked before jumping the last. He had finished runner-up to Manlaga at Haydock on his previous start and he comprehensively reversed the form with that rival at Cheltenham. He will be competing with older rivals here including the Willie Mullins-trained Sherminator and Dan Skelton’s Harry Lowes. He will be ridden by Trainer’s daughter Olive Nicholls.

Paul Nicholls Aintree runners led by Regent’s Stroll in Mildmay Novices’ Chase

Paul Nicholls has won the Mildmay Novices Chase five times, just one short of Nicky Henderson’s record six victories. Caldwell Potter claimed the prize last year and Nicholls looks to have an ideal candidate to follow up in Regent’s Stroll.

The seven-year-old started joint-favourite for the Golden Miller Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. He raced quite keenly over the extended two and a half miles and eventually finished third behind Meetmebythesea. He steps up to three miles for the first time on Friday. Nicholls has always felt he would stay but he has taken time to learn to settle in his races. Obvious dangers include Gold Dancer who finished ahead of him in second at Cheltenham and Wendigo who fell when booked for a place in the Brown Advisory Novices Chase.

No Drama This End can restore reputation in Sefton Novices’ Hurdle

No Drama This End was far and away the biggest disappointment for Paul Nicholls at the Cheltenham Festival. The imposing grey had won two Grade 2 races and the Grade 1 Challow Novices Hurdle at Newbury and started a well-backed 5-2 favourite.

The race went wrong from the start with No Drama This End one of the chief sufferers when several runners were left out of the ground. Jockey Harry Cobden tried to get the horse into contention but repeatedly met interference and was pulled up before the last. He will certainly be racing more prominently when he tackles the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree on Friday and a much better run is expected.

Cobden switched to Paul Nicholls Aintree hope Talk To The Man

Nicholls also runs Talk To The Man who is on a hat-trick after winning at Taunton and Newbury. He has raced up with the pace on both occasions and was eased down when beating The Big Clubman comfortably at Newbury.

Harry Cobden came in for some unfair criticism for his ride on No Drama This End at Cheltenham. He rides Talk To The Moon with Sam Twiston-Davies taking the reins aboard No Drama This End. Paul Nicholls has explained that this is purely because Cobden has recently taken up the role as retained rider for owner JP McManus so Twiston-Davies will be riding the majority of his horses next season.

Market rivals include Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle winner Johnny’s Jury and fourth-placed Mondouri’boy. Stamina was the key factor at Cheltenham and it will be interesting to see if the Albert Bartlett form holds up on this much sharper track. Zeus Power finished a close third in the two miles and five furlong Turners Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham and he could also be a big player in a fascinating contest.

Paul Nicholls Aintree Overview

Paul Nicholls Grand National record will not be altered this year but the fourteen times champion jumps trainer will still be keen to make his mark at Aintree. Paul Nicholls Aintree entries on Thursday included Sans Bruit in the Red Rum Handicap Chase, Pic D’orhy in the Betfred Bowl and Golden Son in the Randox Foxhunters Chase. Regent’s Stroll and No Drama This End have strong claims on Friday’s card while Pourquoi Das Papa should also run well in the conditional jockeys’ handicap.