What’s in a Grand National name? Not as much as you think | Racing | Sport
Nick Rockett won the Grand National in 2025 (Image: Getty)
Once-a-year punters should avoid backing Grand National horses with human names, as new data reveals only 3 of the last 98 runners with them have won. In the last two decades of the ‘World’s Greatest Steeplechase’, at Aintree, 98 horses have names that include human names – such as last year’s winner Nick Rockett.
But new data obtained by the Daily Express reveals that of those 98 runners, only three have won the 30-fence big race – Nick Rockett (2025), I Am Maximus (2024) and One For Arthur (2017). Also, of those 98 runners boasting human names, only 13 – including the three winners – have placed in the top five.
Last year bucked the trend, with Nick Rockett, I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West filling the first three places, and in 2024 I Am Maximus and Kitty’s Light finished first and fifth respectively.
However, not a single runner with a common Christian name managed a top five place between 2018 and 2023 inclusive and punters might well be betting with their heads not their hearts this year.
That will be a concern, as 10 of the 34 runners in this Saturday’s 4pm, four-and-a-quarter mile race have human-sounding names – more than any Grand National since the turn of the century.
That includes favourites like I A Maximus, Johnnywho, Gerri Colombe and Monty’s Star.
Lee Phelps, spokesperson for Randox Grand National Festival Official Betting Partner, William Hill, said: “Names can often help people make up their minds on who to back in the Grand National.
“And given the lottery the race has been over the years, it’s no wonder people side with familiar sounding runners over form-book cases.
“We often see popular names being punted in the race and that can lead to expensive results for us too!
“We’ve counted 10 horses this year who feature first names, with the likes of Johnnywho, Gorgeous Tom and Oscars Brother all sure to be popular.
“While previous results show it’s probably not the best strategy for finding a winner, there’s no race like the National for backing horses for sentimental reasons, so best of luck!”
With 10 of the 34 horses with human names, it means a good slice of the £250 million gambled on the Grand National will be going on be going on horses with the same name as family members.
It is estimated around eight million people heading to betting shops or using their mobile phones to have a flutter over the next 48 hours.
Jockey Paul Townend won on I Am Maximus in 2024 (Image: Getty)
RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL RUNNERS IN 2026 WITH CHRISTIAN NAMES:
