I AM MAXIMUS became the first horse since Red Rum 49 years ago to regain his Grand National crown after he won a thrilling race at Aintree.
Second last year, Paul Townend came from way off the leader at the last to guide home the 2024 winner to a memorable success to also emulate Red Rum, who in 1974 became the first top weight to prevail in the world’s greatest steeplechase.
🏆 I Am Maximus REGAINS the Randox Grand National! 🏆
Willie Mullins is the first trainer to win three successive Nationals since his fellow Irishman Vincent O’Brien (1953-55) in what was also a record-equalling fourth triumph in the race for the 69-year-old.
It was also a record fourth success for owner JP McManus, who had three of the first four home, with Iroko second and Johnnywho fourth.
Victory had looked unlikely when I Am Maximus made a mistake a few fences out and he had a huge amount of ground to make up on Jordans, who had kicked clear and led over the last.
However, Townend and I Am Maximus found another gear as the gallant Jordans tired and he powered past to win.
Iroko, fourth last year, edged Jordans near the line with Johnnywho hampered by riderless horses fourth.
“It was a good call from JP, I’d been going down the Gold Cup route with him, but he said to stay in Aintree with him as he felt he was well handicapped. Paul just executed it so well,” said Mullins afterwards.
“It is (hard to win off top-weight), but maybe the modern-day National is changing and we’re looking at it a bit differently.
“It’s the race we aspire (to win). It’s the race you want to win and be a part of – just to have a runner is a tremendous sensation.
“He is just a superstar – nothing fazes him. He comes out, does what he has to do and wins Nationals.”
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A delighted Townend said: “He’s tough, isn’t he? He’ll gallop to the end of the world for you.
“He still probably didn’t travel with the enthusiasm of the first year, but I just thought the cheekpieces helped in the middle part of the race.
“I saw the one that went in front, but I wasn’t going to be the one chasing him, I had enough going OK in front of me and I was able to get a lead to the elbow.”
McManus was full of praise for Townend’s ride.
He said: “There’s a bit of planning goes into it, everything kind of points towards the Grand National and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. Thankfully it all came together this time.
JP McManus, right, after the race with the winning party. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
“He carried the most weight, but managed to win. He got a great ride from Paul, I thought – he waited for the horse and it was an outstanding ride, I have to say.
“He was entered for the Gold Cup, which was a temptation, but we said we’d try to win the National again because he’s a real National type – he’s just made for it.
“He gets away with things at the fences that he wouldn’t get away with at Cheltenham and he just loves it round here. I couldn’t be happier.”
A punter at Aintree staked a £100,000 bet on the winner and when asked if he too had backed his hero, McManus told ITV Racing: “I had a little on.”
Earlier, Home By The Lee followed up his Stayers’ Hurdle success at the Cheltenham Festival with a dominant display in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
Joseph O’Brien’s 11-year-old was a shock 33-1 winner at Prestbury Park, but was much shorter in the betting at 5-1 to complete a double last achieved by Sire du Berlais in 2023.
Given an enterprising ride by J J Slevin, Home By The Lee was asked to stride on during the second circuit of the three-mile Grade One and although some of the leading names were stacked up waiting to make their challenge entering the home straight, one by one they wilted as the veteran galloped to a seven-length success.
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I Am Maximus storms to famous second win in the Grand National
LAST UPDATE | 4 hrs ago
I AM MAXIMUS became the first horse since Red Rum 49 years ago to regain his Grand National crown after he won a thrilling race at Aintree.
Second last year, Paul Townend came from way off the leader at the last to guide home the 2024 winner to a memorable success to also emulate Red Rum, who in 1974 became the first top weight to prevail in the world’s greatest steeplechase.
Willie Mullins is the first trainer to win three successive Nationals since his fellow Irishman Vincent O’Brien (1953-55) in what was also a record-equalling fourth triumph in the race for the 69-year-old.
It was also a record fourth success for owner JP McManus, who had three of the first four home, with Iroko second and Johnnywho fourth.
Victory had looked unlikely when I Am Maximus made a mistake a few fences out and he had a huge amount of ground to make up on Jordans, who had kicked clear and led over the last.
However, Townend and I Am Maximus found another gear as the gallant Jordans tired and he powered past to win.
Iroko, fourth last year, edged Jordans near the line with Johnnywho hampered by riderless horses fourth.
“It was a good call from JP, I’d been going down the Gold Cup route with him, but he said to stay in Aintree with him as he felt he was well handicapped. Paul just executed it so well,” said Mullins afterwards.
“It is (hard to win off top-weight), but maybe the modern-day National is changing and we’re looking at it a bit differently.
“It’s the race we aspire (to win). It’s the race you want to win and be a part of – just to have a runner is a tremendous sensation.
“He is just a superstar – nothing fazes him. He comes out, does what he has to do and wins Nationals.”
A delighted Townend said: “He’s tough, isn’t he? He’ll gallop to the end of the world for you.
“He still probably didn’t travel with the enthusiasm of the first year, but I just thought the cheekpieces helped in the middle part of the race.
“I saw the one that went in front, but I wasn’t going to be the one chasing him, I had enough going OK in front of me and I was able to get a lead to the elbow.”
McManus was full of praise for Townend’s ride.
He said: “There’s a bit of planning goes into it, everything kind of points towards the Grand National and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. Thankfully it all came together this time.
“He carried the most weight, but managed to win. He got a great ride from Paul, I thought – he waited for the horse and it was an outstanding ride, I have to say.
“He was entered for the Gold Cup, which was a temptation, but we said we’d try to win the National again because he’s a real National type – he’s just made for it.
“He gets away with things at the fences that he wouldn’t get away with at Cheltenham and he just loves it round here. I couldn’t be happier.”
A punter at Aintree staked a £100,000 bet on the winner and when asked if he too had backed his hero, McManus told ITV Racing: “I had a little on.”
Earlier, Home By The Lee followed up his Stayers’ Hurdle success at the Cheltenham Festival with a dominant display in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
Joseph O’Brien’s 11-year-old was a shock 33-1 winner at Prestbury Park, but was much shorter in the betting at 5-1 to complete a double last achieved by Sire du Berlais in 2023.
Given an enterprising ride by J J Slevin, Home By The Lee was asked to stride on during the second circuit of the three-mile Grade One and although some of the leading names were stacked up waiting to make their challenge entering the home straight, one by one they wilted as the veteran galloped to a seven-length success.
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