Last Updated on 11/04/2026 by Andy Clark
The 2026 Grand National takes place on Saturday 11 April at 4:00pm at Aintree. With Rachael Blackmore having retired from racing in 2024, the question of whether any female jockeys will line up in this year’s race is one of the most searched topics of Grand National week.
The short answer: no female jockey has yet been confirmed for the 2026 Grand National.
Are There Any Female Jockeys in the Grand National 2026?
No female jockeys have been confirmed for the 2026 Grand National at the time of writing. Rachael Blackmore – the most high-profile female rider in the race’s recent history and the first woman to win it – announced her retirement from race riding in 2024 and will not be at Aintree this year.
There will be no female jockeys riding in thr 2026 Grand National after the final field was declared.
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Rachael Blackmore – The First Female Jockey to Win the Grand National
Rachael Blackmore made history on 10 April 2021 when she won the Grand National on Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead for owner JP McManus. She became the first female jockey in the 182-year history of the race to win it.
Her win capped an extraordinary 2021 Cheltenham Festival, where she had already become the first female jockey to win the Leading Jockey award – riding six winners across the four days. From Cheltenham to Aintree in the space of a month, Blackmore rewrote the record books.
She had previously ridden in the Grand National without finishing, but her 2021 victory on the nine-year-old Minella Times by 6½ lengths from Balko Des Flos was dominant and conclusive.
Blackmore went on to ride in subsequent Grand Nationals before announcing her retirement from race riding in 2024. She remains the only female jockey to have won the race.
History of Female Jockeys in the Grand National
Only 20 female jockeys have ever ridden in the Grand National since the race began in 1839. The door to female participation was effectively closed for most of the race’s history – women were not permitted to hold professional jockey licences in Britain until 1975.
Key female jockeys in Grand National history:
Charlotte Brew (1977) – the first female jockey to ride in the Grand National, on Barony Fort. She did not complete the course but made history simply by taking part.
Geraldine Rees (1982) – the first female jockey to complete the Grand National course, finishing eighth on Cheers. A landmark moment for women in the sport.
Katie Walsh (multiple rides, 2009-2016) – the most experienced female Grand National jockey alongside Nina Carberry, with six rides each. Walsh’s finest moment came in 2012 when she finished third on Seabass – the best result by a female jockey in the race’s history until Blackmore’s win nine years later. She is the daughter of trainer Ted Walsh and the sister-in-law of trainer Ruby Walsh.
Nina Carberry (multiple rides, 2005-2013) – six Grand National rides, completing the course four times. Her best finish was seventh on Character Building in 2010. Carberry also won the Fox Hunters’ Chase over the National fences in 2015.
Bryony Frost (2018) – finished fifth on Milansbar in her Grand National debut, making an immediate impression at Aintree. Frost had previously made history as the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 chase in Britain.
Gina Andrews (2025) – finished 12th on Latenightpass in 2025, a highly creditable result in a competitive field.
Rachael Blackmore (2021) – won on Minella Times, the defining moment for female jockeys in the race’s history.
Female Trainers Who Have Won the Grand National
While no confirmed female jockey is riding in 2026, female trainers have made a significant mark on the race in recent years.
Lucinda Russell – has trained two Grand National winners. One For Arthur won in 2017 at 14/1, and Corach Rambler won in 2023 at 8/1. Russell became only the fourth woman to train a Grand National winner with One For Arthur and confirmed her status as one of the sport’s leading jumps trainers with Corach Rambler six years later.
Rebecca Curtis – trains Haiti Couleurs, who is among the entries for the 2026 Grand National. Curtis has won the Welsh National and Irish Grand National with the horse. A Welsh-based trainer who has become one of the most respected names in National Hunt racing.
Sue Smith – trained Auroras Encore to win the 2013 Grand National at 66/1, one of the biggest-priced winners of the modern era. Became only the third female trainer to win the race.
Venetia Williams – trained Mon Mome to win the 2009 Grand National at 100/1 – still the longest-priced winner of the race in modern times. Williams also rode in the 1988 Grand National as a jockey before retiring to train.
Will a Female Jockey Ever Win the Grand National Again?
Rachael Blackmore’s 2021 victory proved definitively that female jockeys can win the Grand National. The barrier has been broken. The question now is not whether a woman can win – it is simply who and when.
The pool of talented female jockeys competing at the highest level in National Hunt racing has grown significantly in the years since Blackmore’s breakthrough. Bryony Frost, Gina Andrews, Tabitha Worsley and others have all shown they belong at the top level.
Whether any of them line up in the 2026 Grand National will become clear when final declarations are confirmed on Tuesday 8 April.
Grand National 2026 Female Jockey FAQs
Is there a female jockey in the Grand National 2026?
No female jockey has been confirmed for the 2026 Grand National at the time of writing. Final declarations are made on Tuesday 8 April and this page will be updated when riders are confirmed.
Will Rachael Blackmore ride in the Grand National 2026?
No. Rachael Blackmore retired from race riding in 2024 and will not be competing at Aintree in 2026.
Who was the first female jockey to win the Grand National?
Rachael Blackmore, on Minella Times in 2021, trained by Henry de Bromhead. She is the only female jockey to have won the race.
Who was the first female jockey to ride in the Grand National?
Charlotte Brew in 1977, on Barony Fort. She did not complete the course but became the first woman to ride in the race.
Who was the first female jockey to finish the Grand National?
Geraldine Rees in 1982, finishing eighth on Cheers. She was the first woman to complete the course.
How many female jockeys have ridden in the Grand National?
Only 20 female jockeys have ever ridden in the Grand National since the race began in 1839.
What is the best finish by a female jockey in the Grand National?
Rachael Blackmore won in 2021. Before her victory, the best finish was Katie Walsh’s third place on Seabass in 2012.
Has a female trainer won the Grand National?
Yes. Venetia Williams (Mon Mome 2009), Sue Smith (Auroras Encore 2013), and Lucinda Russell (One For Arthur 2017 and Corach Rambler 2023) have all trained Grand National winners. Rebecca Curtis trains Haiti Couleurs, who is entered for 2026.
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Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers.