Nick Rockett, the reigning champion of the Grand National horse race, has been withdrawn from the 2026 event at Aintree due to health concerns. The nine-year-old horse, trained by Willie and Patrick Mullins and owned by Stewart Andrews from Bradford, was initially included in the list of confirmed participants but was declared a non-runner after exhibiting coughing symptoms. Patrick Mullins stated that they wanted to give Nick Rockett every chance to compete, but ultimately decided against it to ensure the horse's well-being. He emphasized the necessity of being in peak condition for such a demanding race. The Grand National, known for its challenging course of 4 miles and 21⁄2 furlongs with 30 fences, is expected to draw over 150,000 spectators and attract an estimated 600 million viewers globally. The race coverage will commence at 12:45 PM, with the main event scheduled to start at 4 PM.