I Am Maximus joins Grand National greats by regaining crown to emulate Red Rum

In a race where fortunes can switch in an instant, I Am Maximus and his trainer, Willie Mullins, are on a roll like few others in Grand National history. The 10-year-old’s two-and-a-half length victory on Saturday, powering past Iroko and the faltering Jordans, who had a three-length lead over the last, was his second in three years, having finished runner-up behind a stable-companion here 12 months ago. Mullins has now won three Nationals in a row, the first trainer to do so since Vincent O’Brien in 1955.

From horse and trainer, it is the stuff of legends. Red Rum, the most cherished Aintree hero of them all, was the last to win the race in non-consecutive years. He came home for a record third success – “preceded only by loose horses”, in Peter O’Sullevan’s famous commentary – in 1977. Mullins’s fourth win – his first was with Hedgehunter in 2005 – gives him a share of the all-time record, along with George Dockeray, Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain.

The race was barely under way before it offered up a reminder of how abruptly a winning streak can be extinguished here. Patrick Mullins, the winning jockey aboard Nick Rockett 12 months ago, opted to ride his father’s Grangeclare West, a well-backed 10-1 chance, this time around. They got no further than the first.

That set the tone for a much more incident-filled Grand National than many recent editions. There were seven fallers, more than double the total in the past two Nationals combined, and seven more runners unseated their riders. Three horses were assessed by vets in the racecourse stables, but no serious injuries were initially apparent. Robbie Dunne, the jockey aboard Stellar Story, was taken to hospital with a suspected fracture to his collarbone.

The biggest groan from the crowd came as Panic Attack, the only mare in the race and the second-favourite at 7-1, went at third, while Jagwar, at 17-2, unseated Mark Walsh on the second circuit.

In the mayhem, though, I Am Maximus could be seen cruising through the race under Paul Townend, with a white cap – the first colours of JP McManus – to distinguish him from the owner’s cohort of runners.

Paul Townend on board I Am Maximus jump The Chair on their way to victory. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Townend remained calm even when Jordans and Ben Jones accelerated into a big lead with two fences to jump. For a brief moment it seemed Jones might have stolen the win, but Jordans’s stride was beginning to shorten even as he cleared the last. Having worked his way steadily towards the leader, I Am Maximus’s momentum was now irresistible and Townend had enough time to spare at the line to stand up in his irons and acknowledge the acclaim of the crowd.

“I was always getting the feel off him that when I did commit him, I had horse left,” he said. “Even back at Valentine’s [on the second circuit] there were enough in front of me that I was going to allow them to bring me as far as they could.

“I’ve watched enough Nationals and ridden in enough now to know how far it is from the Elbow to the line, so from the third-last it’s a lonely place out there in front. I just trusted Max would come alive when I wanted him.”

Many of the 65,000 spectators were about to cash winning tickets as I Am Maximus attracted all the late cash in the betting market to set off as the 9-2 favourite, having been available at twice those odds less than an hour before the off.
He could be shorter still if he returns for a fourth run next year, with a chance to become the second horse to win three times.

Paul Townend celebrates in front of the crowd after his winning ride. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Red Rum and Tiger Roll, the winner in 2018 and 2019, were big characters with a huge public following and I Am Maximus, too, has a mind of his own, even if he may not be invited to open many betting shops. “We have a parade at home when we win [a big race],” Mullins said, “and people want their photos taken with the horse.

“Galopin Des Champs [a dual Gold Cup winner] was there for about an hour-and-a-half and Lossiemouth [this year’s Champion Hurdle winner] for probably two hours this year. But I Am Maximus, he ate about three babies and kicked about four pensioners so we had to load him up and bring him home after five minutes. That’s I Am Maximus. He would eat you without salt. Just don’t stand in his way.”

Mullins still has hopes I Am Maximus may line up in a Cheltenham Gold Cup, but a return to Liverpool after a similar preparation to this year’s seems far more likely. If he gets to the start as an 11-year-old next April, it will be one of the most eagerly anticipated renewals in what is a near 200-year history of the race.

“At the first four or five fences, there were casualties, thankfully none of them bad,” Mullins said. “After four fences I’m reeling, with horses going at every fence. We’ve sort of become sanitised and used to no horse falling until about the second circuit in recent years.

“I don’t know what the difference was this year, but it certainly delivered for atmosphere and excitement. The oohs and aahs from people who had backed those horses and that was their race over. For atmosphere, the Grand National delivered in spades this year.”

Full result:
1 I Am Maximus (Paul Townend) 9-2 Fav
2 Iroko (Jonjo O’Neill Jr) 18-1
3 Jordans (Ben Jones) 28-1
4 Johnnywho (RP McLernon) 12-1
5 High Class Hero (James Bowen) 66-1