{"id":847280,"date":"2026-03-24T14:40:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/847280\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:40:23","slug":"mark-walsh-makes-his-grand-national-pick-from-trio-of-jp-mcmanus-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/847280\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Walsh makes his Grand National pick from trio of JP McManus stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

JP McManus owns the first three favourites in the big race betting, including former winner I Am Maximus and Iroko, but his first jockey has opted for Cheltenham Festival runners-up Jagwar\"Mark<\/p>\n

Mark Walsh: made his Grand National choice(Image: PA)<\/p>\n

Mark Walsh has made his Grand National pick from a trio of JP McManus-owned stars. McManus horses dominate the first three positions in the big race betting with former winner I Am Maximus the 8-1 favourite with William Hill from Iroko, last year’s fourth, and Jagwar who are both 10-1 chances.<\/p>\n

That left the 40 year old Walsh, who came closest to winning the race on 2022 runner-up Any Second Now, facing a tough decision as to which horse to ride at Aintree on April 11, but the jockey who fell when riding Percival Legallois last year, has plumped for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained gelding.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: 10 horses pulled from Grand National 2026 as latest confirmed runners emerge<\/a>READ MORE: Horse racing trainer whose family slept in one room to shield from missile attacks quits Dubai<\/a><\/p>\n

Walsh rode the seven year old to finish runner-up to Johnnywho, also owned by McManus, in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival<\/a>. Jagwar’s stablemate Iroko, fourth last year, will again be ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr.<\/p>\n

“Jagwar has been very good since Cheltenham, he’s very fresh and has come out of the race very well,” said Guerriero. “I thought initially he might have had a hard race, but he certainly hasn’t been tired, anyway.<\/p>\n

“Cheltenham told us that he stayed that trip (three miles one furlong) very well and there’s no reason he shouldn’t stay further the way he came up the hill. He wasted a hell of lot of energy through the race with his jumping and being wide.<\/p>\n

\"Mark<\/p>\n

Mark Walsh (left) finished second on Jagwar at the Cheltenham Festival(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“He seems to struggle at Cheltenham with getting into a rhythm and I do think at Aintree<\/a> with its long straights will help that a lot, he can use his big stride.<\/p>\n

“The plan is for Mark Walsh<\/a> to ride him, that was the whole point of riding him at Cheltenham, to get to know him before the National. Hopefully he’ll stay on and Jonjo will stay on Iroko.”<\/p>\n

Iroko was reported to have scoped dirty after the Ultima but remains on course. “He just had a bit of mucus in his scope after the race, we scoped him before he ran but he’s picked something up in the days before the race,” Guerriero added.<\/p>\n

\"Jonjo<\/p>\n

Jonjo O’Neill (centre): set to ride Iroko in Grand National (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“It was nothing serious, but it was obviously enough to affect his performance. He’s never failed to perform in a race, that was the first time, but then he scoped dirty.”<\/p>\n

A total of 14 horses were withdrawn from the National at the latest confirmation stage, with Grey Dawning, Handstands, Gentlemansgame, Western Fold, Better Days Ahead, Croke Park, Intense Raffles, Myretown, O’Moore Park, Leave Of Absence, Resplendent Grey, Stolen Silver, Search For Glory and Pic Roc no longer vying for the title.<\/p>\n

Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack is now assured a spot, securing the last of the current 34 positions.<\/p>\n

THE 2026 RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL RUNNERS<\/p>\n

4.00pm, Aintree, Saturday 11th April 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n