I Am Maximus Regains Grand National Title

In a historic moment at the 2026 Randox Grand National, I Am Maximus became the first horse to reclaim the title since the legendary Red Rum. The race was filled with early drama, including the separation of Grangeclare West from Patrick Mullins at the first fence and the fall of Panic Attack at the third. I Am Maximus, under the skilled hands of Paul Townend, tracked the inside path he knows so well. As the race progressed, a bold bid by Ben Jones on The Jukebox Man was overtaken by the heavily-backed 9-2 favourite, I Am Maximus, who stormed home to win the race for the second time. This victory marked a record fourth win in the race for owner JP McManus, with his Iroko finishing second - a first for one owner to have the first two places. Jordans finished third, followed by Johnnywho in fourth. Trainer Mullins, now a four-time National-winning handler, praised the decision to keep I Am Maximus in the Aintree race, stating, 'It was a good call from JP... Paul just executed it so well.' Mullins described I Am Maximus as 'a superb horse who got a fantastic ride,' noting the challenges he faced from his stablemates. The win was celebrated as a testament to the horse's exceptional ability and the strategic decisions made by his team. I Am Maximus's victory has also sparked discussions about the changing nature of the modern-day National, with Mullins suggesting it may be becoming easier for top-weight horses to win. The race was part of a larger event that included other notable wins, such as Oxagon's success in the Craven Stakes and Azleet's win in the Nell Gwyn Stakes. The Grand National also saw the success of Home By The Lee in the Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle, with Joseph O'Brien's 11-year-old dominating the field to achieve a double last seen by Sire du Berlais in 2023.