Grand National Predictions: Imperial Saint and Johnnywho Tipped for Success

The highly anticipated Grand National steeplechase has arrived once again. The Weekend Winners team is back to preview the 2026 Randox Grand National, with each member nominating their top three picks for the prestigious Aintree event. A maximum field of 34 runners is set to compete, led by 2024 winner I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend. Other prominent contenders include Coral Gold Cup winner Panic Attack, last year's third-place finisher Grangeclare West, and JP McManus' entries Jagwar, Johnnywho, and Iroko. Imperial Saint is a top choice due to his impressive course form on the Mildmay course, where he excelled in a competitive handicap last year. He appears to be ready for a marathon trip and is currently overpriced. Johnnywho, the Ultima winner at the Cheltenham Festival, is another strong contender, given the historical success of Ultima winners in the Grand National. His first-time cheekpieces significantly improved his performance, and he ran an impressive race in the Grand Sefton over these fences. Iroko, who ran creditably in last year's Grand National, is also a potential contender, having won at Ascot and shown improvement following a wind operation. Eight key trends have been identified to help find the winner, with Johnnywho perfectly fitting the profile. Final Orders is the second selection, despite being two years too old, due to his perfect rating, weight, and recent win. Spanish Harlem, although ticking fewer boxes, is a dark horse at a massive price and could outrun his odds. Monty's Star, with a great record in recent times and a nice mark, is another top pick. Oscar's Brother, trained by Connor King, could be a compelling story, having shown significant improvement in all his starts. Captain Cody, who won the Scottish National, looks like he should relish the trip and has been targeted for this race. Other notable entries include Favori De Champdou and Perceval Legallois.