Grand National 2026: Complete guide to all 34 horses set to compete at Aintree Racecourse
Anticipation is building ahead of the 2026 Grand National as the field begins to take shape for one of racing’s most iconic contests at Aintree Racecourse.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh takes a look through the 34 horses set to go to post.
Horse racing news: Comfortable win at Kempton Park for Constitution Hill and Ryan Moore
Constitution Hill recorded a comfortable victory in his second start on the Flat at Kempton Park on Wednesday night, writes Sports News Blitz’s Jordan Hackett.
The nine-year-old, who is enjoying a second career after one too many falls over hurdles, once again won with relative ease. And with Oisin Murphy serving a suspension, the result came at the hands of Ryan Moore.
Meydan horse racing tips for Saturday, March 28 – Triple Crown glory for Forever Young?
After posting a double-figure profit from his selections last week, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh turns his attention to Dubai.
Meydan plays host to the Dubai World Cup carnival, with nine races on the card, and our resident racing fanatic is very much looking forward to getting his teeth into it.
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Doncaster and Kempton on Saturday, March 28
Sports News Blitz’s racing tipster Jeff Mexico is finally back from Cheltenham… Ladies College where he has been teaching sixth-form girls geography for the last month. How Jeff managed to swing that gig is beyond us as he can’t tell the difference between a glacial system and an oxbow lake.
Let’s bring him back down to earth with a bump by waving in the traditional start of the Flat season at Doncaster, with five contests on offer from ITV, as well as three on the all-weather at Kempton.
Horse racing news: Constitution Hill rating remains unchanged despite ‘highly striking’ performance
Constitution Hill’s rating remains unchanged after his latest success on the Flat at Kempton, beating a more promising rival than he had at Southwell again with ease.
Given it was a steadily-run race, the form can’t be rated too highly, so Nicky Henderson’s star remains on a Timeform rating of 106P. The Timeform large ‘P’ indicates Constitution Hill’s potential for significant improvement after only two starts on the Flat.
Horse racing news: Six-time winner Bill Turner to be honoured with Brocklesby Stakes
Six-time Brocklesby Stakes–winning trainer Bill Turner, who died tragically at the age of 78 following an incident at his Somerset stables last year, will have his name added to this year’s running of the prestigious two-year-old contest at Doncaster.
In memory of Turner, William Hill and Doncaster Racecourse have agreed to rename the race the William Hill Bill Turner Brocklesby Stakes, which will take place on Saturday 28th March.
The last five winners of the Grand National
The Grand National has an extraordinary ability to generate stories that transcend sport. Whether it is an amateur jockey fulfilling a lifelong dream, a female rider making history, or a 50/1 outsider defying every expectation, Aintree has a way of producing moments that linger.
If you are looking for Grand National betting inspiration ahead of the next renewal, studying recent winners is always a sensible starting point. Here is a look back at the five horses who have claimed jump racing's greatest prize since 2021.
Oaks and 1000 Guineas return as UK World Pool races in Q2
Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas and the Oaks from Epsom will return as World Pool races this year, with the full list of 2026 Q2 fixtures being confirmed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
As was the case last year, the World Pool season in the UK will kick off with the 2000 Guineas from Newmarket on 2 May, with a full card available to punters in 27 jurisdictions.
Ka Ying Rising trials smoothly ahead of Sprint Cup as FWD Champions Day approaches
Everything went as expected on Tuesday morning (24 March) at Sha Tin for Ka Ying Rising as the eight-time Group 1 winner cruised through a barrier trial in preparation for 6 April’s HK$5.35 million (approx. £510,000) G2 Sprint Cup (6f/1200m), where he’ll attempt to secure a record-extending 19th consecutive win.
Invincible Ibis flies home to land BMW Hong Kong Derby for Mark Newnham and Hugh Bowman
Crowning a phenomenal week for trainer Mark Newnham, Invincible Ibis vindicated Hugh Bowman’s faith with a record-breaking triumph in the HK$26 million (approx. £2.5m) BMW Hong Kong Derby (1m2f/2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 March).
ITV horse racing tips and best bets for Kelso, Newbury and Bangor-On-Dee on Saturday, March 21
After a very profitable Cheltenham, normal service is resumed for Sports News Blitz’s horse racing pundit Kieran McHugh.
ITV Racing are showing 10 races on Saturday, from three different meetings, and our racing reporter is looking to continue his fine form.
Grand National 2026: JP McManus outsider supported for Grand National glory in William Hill non-runner, money back market
JP McManus looks set for a fourth Grand National victory as his horses dominate William Hill’s non-runner, money back market.
William Hill launched their non-runner, money back market (NRMB) for the Grand National earlier this week and have since seen a flurry of support for JP McManus’ contenders, Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh reports.
Calandagan, Docklands and Royal Champion headline European entry for FWD Champions Day
Calandagan, Docklands and Royal Champion are among 14 European horses entered for FWD Champions Day on Sunday, 26 April at Sha Tin – all seeking the opportunity to race for the record HK$78 million (approx. £7.5 million) in prizemoney across three of world racing’s premier contests in Hong Kong.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 day four: Tips for televised races on ITV
After a thrilling and dramatic Cheltenham Festival, the fourth and final day is upon us with all eyes on the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Sports News Blitz’s Jeff Mexico and Kieran McHugh seem to have saved their best until the end, and after a successful Thursday, they return for the finale on Friday, March 13.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 day three: Tips for televised races on ITV
Day three of the Cheltenham Festival has quickly rolled around and after a thrilling last couple of days, all focus turns now to St Patrick’s Thursday.
Sports News Blitz’s Jeff Mexico and Kieran McHugh are back for round three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday, March 12.
Majborough highest-rated chaser this century to be labelled a ‘poor jumper’ by Timeform
Majborough has been given the 'x' symbol by Timeform to mark him out as a poor jumper.
With a rating of 177, he is the highest-rated chaser this century to also have an 'x'.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 guide: Day-by-day race times, how to watch tv guide, best horses, trainers, jockeys and more
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is the biggest four days in National Hunt racing. Sports News Blitz delivers a guide to the race times, tv schedule, top horses, trainers, jockeys and more.
March is a magical time of year. The weather starts to behave itself, it’s not dark at 4pm and 8am and most importantly - it’s the Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 day one: Upsets galore as Lossiemouth, Kargese star on Champion Day
The biggest week in the British horse racing calendar is underway, and there was plenty for the Cheltenham crowd to roar about as the iconic festival lived up to its dramatic reputation on the opening day.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Charlie Fawcett reviews all the action, as it happened, on Champion Day 2026.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 day two: Tips for televised races on ITV
After an action-packed opening day, Prestbury Park opens its doors once more as the second day of the Cheltenham Festival gets underway. Sports News Blitz’s Jeff Mexico and Kieran McHugh survived the first day of the ‘Fez’ and return for round two at HQ on Wednesday, March 11.
The first race is underway at 1:20pm and proceedings conclude at 4:40pm, leaving 20 minutes for tea, tears, and tribulations before you can rage all over again because someone took the minus offer on The Chase.
Lossiemouth records career-high rating of 161 in Champion Hurdle win
Lossiemouth earned a career-high Timeform rating of 161 when winning the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Willie Mullins’ star was winning at her fourth successive Cheltenham Festival following victories in the 2023 JCB Triumph Hurdle and the last two renewals of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.
Lossiemouth had been rated 158 prior to the Champion Hurdle.