Owned by John P. McManus, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, I Am Maximus won the 2024 Grand National, leading home Delta Work, Minella Indo and Galvin in a 1-2-3-4 for Irish-trained horses. The eight-year-old was sent off 7/1 joint-favourite after giving the 2023 Grand National runner-up Vanillier 2lb and a 14-length beating in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on his previous start. Saddled with 11st 6lb at Aintree, I Am Maximus justified his lofty market position, taking the lead halfway up the run-in and quickly putting seven-and-a-half lengths between himself and his nearest pursuer. In so doing, he became a second Grand National winner for Mullins, after Hedgehunter in 2005, and a first for Townend.
Trained in the early part of his career by Nicky Henderson, I Am Maximus won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse for Mullins, as a seven-year-old, in April 2023 and followed up in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at the same County Meath venue in December that year. Staying is definitely his game, though, and the marathon distance of the Grand National proved to be the making of him.
Off a revised handicap mark, 8lb higher than the previous year, I Am Maximus was, once again, strongly fancied for the 2025 Grand National, being sent off marginal second-favourite at 7/1. He did his level best to defy the welter burden of 11st 12lb but, ultimately, found the concession of 4lb to stable companion Nick Rockett beyond him, finishing a creditable second, beaten two-and-a-half lengths. It proved to be a memorable renewal for Mullins, who saddled five of the first seven finishers.
At the time of writing, in the 2025/26 season, so far, I Am Maximus has been campaigned exclusively at Grade 1 level, without success. However, in the 2026 Grand National, while once again set to carry top weight of 11st 12lb, he is, in fact, 3lb better off with Nick Rockett, so must have bright prospects of a return to the hallowed winners’ enclosure at Aintree.The bookmakers certainly think so, as he is currently a top-priced 10/1 joint-favourite for the 2026 Grand National ante-post.