A total of 78 horses have been entered for the 2026 Grand National, a significant decline on 2025, while Cheltenham Festival scratchings have narrowed the targets for some of racing’s showpiece names. Here is Wednesday morning’s racing news round-ip.
Grand National & Cheltenham fields become clearer
78 horses have been entered for the 2026 Grand National, though this represents a second year of decline for the world’s greatest steeplechase. The entries are down by 12 on 2025’s 90, and 16 from the 94 entered for the 2024 edition. Of those 78, Willie Mullins trains 15, including the previous two winners of the race in I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett, while the third of his sensational tricast last year, Grangeclare West, could also be back for more in 2026. (Liverpool Echo)
Meanwhile, the first stage of scratchings for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival have been made, with the fields for the three showcase chases, the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase, narrowed. The most significant scratchings came in the last of those three races, with all of Grey Dawning, Majborough, Spillane’s Tower and The Jukebox Man taken out of the Ryanair Chase, suggesting their targets lay elsewhere, while two-time champion Energumene will not contest the Queen Mother Champion Chase and former runner-up Gerri Colombe will miss the Gold Cup. (The Sun)
Oldschool Outlaw impresses at Fairyhouse
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle contender Oldschool Outlaw impressed on her first start in JP McManus’ colours with a statement win in the Grade 3 Solerina Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. The six-year-old, who is trained by Gordon Elliott, was bought by McManus after her surprise defeat of 2025 Champion Bumper heroine Bambino Fever on their mutual hurdling bow, and powered clear to win by nine lengths and maintain her unbeaten record on Tuesday afternoon. (Ireland Live)
Racing Digital chair leaves multi-million pound venture
The chair of Racing Digital, an organisation seeking to revamp British horseracing in conjunction with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Weatherbys, has stepped down from his role. Chris Batterham cited “grave concerns” about the direction of the project, suggesting that plans to go ahead with Racing Digital’s outline on time this year would be to the detriment of his “desired quality”. (Racing Post)
Grand Military Gold Cup meeting abandoned at Sandown
Lastly, a Wednesday morning inspection at Sandown has caused the Grand Military Gold Cup card on Friday to be abandoned due to a waterlogged track. The meeting is an annual celebration of military amateur riders at the Surrey track, but concerns had been raised as early as Tuesday that the ground would not be suitable for racing even come Friday afternoon. (Jockey Club)