WINNING the Grand National once is the kind of achievement most jockeys spend their whole careers dreaming about. And a select group of riders have done it more than once, placing themselves among the most celebrated names in racing history. In total, 17 jockeys have won the Grand National twice, six have won it three times, and one remarkable rider sits in a class of his own with a record five victories.
You can explore Grand National betting to see the current market ahead of this year’s race, which takes place at Aintree on Saturday, 11 April 2026. Paul Townend, who rode I Am Maximus to victory in 2024, is expected to partner the same horse again this year, with the 10-year-old gelding among the leading fancies to win. A second win would put Townend in that prestigious company of jockeys who have taken the National more than once. Here’s a look at the most successful Grand National jockeys.
Tom Olliver (1842, 1843, 1853)
Tom Olliver was one of the great figures of 19th-century jump racing, winning the Grand National across an 11-year span with three different horses. His victories on Gay Lad, Vanguard, and then Peter Simple in 1853 showed an ability to keep producing at the highest level over a long stretch of time. Peter Simple was 15 years old when he won in 1853, making him the oldest horse ever to win the race, a record that still stands today.
Tommy Pickernell (1860, 1871, 1875)
Tommy Pickernell rode in 17 Grand Nationals and won three of them, with a gap of 15 years between his first and last victories. He competed under the alias Mr Thomas and apparently lined up for his third win in 1875 in less than perfect condition, with the story going that his horse Pathfinder essentially carried him round to win by half a length. He only retired after a fall that left him blind in one eye, at the age of 43.
Tommy Beasley (1880, 1881, 1889)
Tommy Beasley won back-to-back Nationals in 1880 and 1881 on Empress and Woodbrook before returning nine years later to win on Frigate. He was one of four Irish brothers who between them rode in 34 Grand Nationals, which says a great deal about the family’s dedication to Aintree.
Arthur Nightingall (1890, 1894, 1901)
Arthur Nightingall spread his three wins across more than a decade and is remembered as one of the most composed jockeys of his era. During his 1894 win on Why Not, he reportedly called out to a fellow rider as he moved to the front, telling him he needed to push on a little faster before pulling clear to win by four lengths.
Jack Anthony (1911, 1915, 1920)
Jack Anthony’s three wins came across a nine-year period that included the First World War, which forced the race to be held at Gatwick between 1916 and 1918. His 1915 win on Ally Sloper was notable for producing the first female-owned Grand National winner, with the horse carrying the colours of Lady Margaret Nelson to victory.
Brian Fletcher (1968, 1973, 1974)
Brian Fletcher’s place in Grand National history is secured by his two wins on Red Rum, but his first National success came five years earlier when he rode Red Alligator to victory in 1968 as a 20-year-old. The 1973 win on Red Rum is one of the most famous rides in the race’s history, with Fletcher clawing back a 15-length deficit to Crisp at the final fence to win in a record time that stood for 17 years.
George Stevens (1856, 1863, 1864, 1869, 1870)
No jockey in the history of the Grand National has come close to what George Stevens achieved. His five wins span 14 years, including back-to-back victories on The Colonel in 1869 and 1870. He rode in an era when the course was a patchwork of fields, and most obstacles were ditches rather than fences, but the scale of his achievement is no less impressive for that. Stevens won the race on four different horses and finished his National career with a record that, more than 150 years later, nobody has seriously threatened. He died at 38 after a riding accident in the Gloucestershire countryside, but his place at the top of this list is permanent.
Article written by Andrea Sharp
