I Am Maximus Regains Grand National Title

In a historic moment at the 2026 Randox Grand National, I Am Maximus achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first horse to reclaim the title since the legendary Red Rum. The race was filled with early drama, including the fall of last year's third-place finisher, Grangeclare West, and Panic Attack at the third fence. However, I Am Maximus, under the skilled hands of Paul Townend, navigated the inside path with ease. As the race unfolded, a bold bid by Ben Jones on The Jukebox Man was overshadowed by the looming challenge of the heavily-backed 9-2 favorite, I Am Maximus, who stormed to victory after the final jump, securing his second Grand National win. This historic win marked a record fourth victory in the race for owner JP McManus, with his Iroko finishing second, a first for one owner to have the top two finishers. Jordans took third place, 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 received a 'fantastic ride' and noted that the most trouble he faced was from his stablemates. The win was a testament to the horse's exceptional ability and the strategic decisions made by his team. The victory was celebrated by all, with owner JP McManus expressing his delight and Paul Townend praising the horse's toughness, saying, 'He's tough, isn't he? He'll gallop to the end of the world for you.' In another notable performance, Home By The Lee dominated the Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle, following up his Stayers' Hurdle success at the Cheltenham Festival with a seven-length victory under J J Slevin. Trainer Joseph O'Brien attributed the win to the horse's exceptional stamina and the effective ride by Slevin, who injected pace during the second circuit to outstay the competition.