Defending champion Nick Rockett will not bid to retain his title after he was ruled out of the race on Thursday.
The nine-year-old was found to be coughing two days out from the Grand National. Trainer Willie Mullins thus made the decision to pull out the 2025 winner. He had been due to be ridden by Tom Bellamy in a first for the Mullins stable. Last year’s winning rider Patrick Mullins had deserted him for Grangeclare West.
Nick Rockett was a game 33/1 winner 12 months ago in a Willie Mullins 1-2-3. However, this season has been plagued by injuries, as he only reappeared recently at Down Royal. He had also been a non-runner earlier this season in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown.
That Down Royal completion qualified him for a repeat tilt at Aintree, though that will no longer come to pass. Pied Piper now gets into the race as the first reserve, with Imperial Saint now needing just one non-runner as the number 36.
2025 champion misses 2026 race
Willie and Patrick Mullins achieved a memorable and historic father-son victory in the 2025 Grand National. They could still do so again in 2026, but it will not be with Nick Rockett.
A 33/1 shot a year ago, Nick Rockett had been backed down to around 16/1. Tom Bellamy, who had never ridden for Mullins before, had been jocked up for a repeat bid on Wednesday. Patrick is due tor ide Grangeclare West.
That ride will not come to fruition now. The extent of his ailment is not yet known, so an appearance is possible at Punchestown. However, a return to the Grand National will not occur until 2027.
This year’s Grand National is due off at 4pm on Saturday 9 April. I Am Maximus, the other former winner declared, is the clear favourite to regain his title.