Mullins, Townend regain Grand National glory with I Am Maximus

I Am Maximus, who won the Grand National in 2024 and was second to stablemate Nick Rockett in 2025, became the first horse in 50 years to win the race in nonconsecutive years, a feat not achieved since Red Rum won his third Grand National in 1976. He was also the first top-weighted horse to win the race since Red Rum won his second Grand National in 1974.

Through the early stages long shots Amirite and Twig made the front ranks, with Top of the Bill and High Class hero subsequently vying for the lead. Imperial Saint took the lead near the 25th fence after Top of the Bill made a mistake jumping. Through all these lead changes I Am Maximus quietly bided his time midfield.

The first horse to make a bold run into the leading group was Jordans, who took a narrow lead approaching the third last, and opened up afterwards. Even after getting over the last jump decently, however, he was not home free. His stride began to shorten as Paul Townend was producing I Am Maximus with a confident run after riding him so patiently through the race. He drove I Am Maximus past, and I Am Maximus continued to run stoutly to the wire.

I Am Maximus crossed the wire 2 1/2 lengths clear of Iroko, who ran on well inside but could not get to the winner. Jordans held on for third and Johnnywho chased on for fourth. Favored in both stateside and British markets, I Am Maximus paid $11 to win in the American pari-mutuel pools.

The second and third choices in both the European markets and the American pari-mutuel market, Panic Attack and Grangeclare West, were both out of the race early. Grangeclare West unseated rider Patrick Mullins at the first fence; Panic Attack unseeated jockey Harry Skelton at the third.

I Am Maximus is a 10-year-old gelding by Authorized out of the Poliglote mare Polysheba. He is trained by Willie Mullins, best known stateside for training 2025 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Ethical Diamond, and ridden by Paul Townend. They are the same pair who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month with Gaelic Warrior. Mullins won the Grand National for the third time in a row, after I Am Maximus in 2024 and Nick Rockett in 2025. It was Mullins's fourth Grand National victory overall, since he also won with Hedgehunter in 2005. Townend has now won the race twice, in both 2024 and 2026 with I Am Maximus. I Am Maximus is owned by John McManus, who also owns second-place Iroko and fourth-place Johnnywho.

While watching the race unfold, Mullins was not sure at first whether I Am Maximus was waiting, or about to come up empty. "Because he's not able to get through, maybe Paul (Townend) hasn't enough petrol in the tank," Mullins said in an interview with RacingTV. "He kept getting pushed sideways. But I think, in retrospect, it was just Paul keeping it calm. Unless he was going to get through easy, he didn't want to use up petrol. And, he just kept moving sideways, up when the gaps came, settled, and eventually the horse's class just told."

The impost of 166 pounds made I Am Maximus the highest-weighted winner of the 21st century. It is the highest weight allowed under current Grand National rules. The impost is the highest carried by a winner since the 168 pounds that Red Rum carried when he won in 1974.

In the RacingTV interview, Mullins also expressed hope that he could bring back I Am Maximus for another tilt at the Grand National next year. Should he win again, I Am Maximus would tie the most beloved record held by Red Rum, that of being a three-time Grand National winner.