The 2026 Grand National has been etched in history, and what an event it was. One of the standout performances came from I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, making it the first horse to reclaim the trophy since the legendary Red Rum. Mullins reinforced his status as one of the greatest by guiding I Am Maximus to a career-best performance, a feat that would have been hard to predict after his novice chase season in 2022/23. The partnership between I Am Maximus and Townend was pivotal, with Townend's understanding of the horse's unique jumping style and his confidence in the face of intense competition being truly impressive.
The victory was all the more remarkable given I Am Maximus's top weight and rating of 168. While some may argue that the modern Grand National lacks the jumping test of its predecessors, it has evolved into a highly competitive and elite race.
The 2026 renewal, with its seven fallers and seven unseats, reminded us that despite changes to the track and field size, the race still holds a great deal of unpredictability and drama. Rather than yearning for the past, we should appreciate the Grand National for what it is today - a thrilling spectacle that continues to captivate audiences. The old Grand National may be gone, but its legacy lives on in the modern version, which remains an exhilarating and high-risk event that is unparalleled in National Hunt racing.