Maximus facing ‘tough’ task in Grand National defence

Willie Mullins is under no illusions about the task facing I Am Maximus after he was allotted top-weight ahead of his bid for back-to-back victories in the Randox Grand National.

The JP McManus-owned gelding was a brilliant winner of the Aintree spectacular last season under Paul Townend, but will have to carry 11st 12lb to victory if he is to repeat the feat on April 5.

Since his heroics of last season, I Am Maximus has twice competed against his dual Gold Cup-winning stablemate Galopin Des Champs, pulling up in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas before finishing eighth in the Irish Gold Cup earlier this month.

Mullins, who first claimed Grand National glory with Hedgehunter in 2005, hopes the nine-year-old can get his season up and running in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse later this month, but admits it will be “tough” for the nine-year-old to successfully defend his Grand National crown.

“It was huge to win it last year for the second time. I felt very spoilt winning a second Grand National,” said the British and Irish champion trainer.

“It’s top-weight and it’s tough but we had an idea that it would be tough. He’ll probably run in the Bobbyjo and we’ll see how he is.

“He likes the track (Aintree). Sometimes when horses go back a second time they don’t like it and we’ve got all that to take into account. Horses go round it once and the second time it can be different, but he had a good experience last year and I’m hoping that it won’t be a problem.”

I Am Maximus will not be Mullins’ only representative in this year’s renewal of the world’s most famous steeplechase, with the Closutton handler responsible for 10 entries in all.

Other hopefuls for the team include Grangeclare West (11st 8lb), who was last seen finishing second to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup, and recent Thyestes Chase winner Nick Rockett (11st 8lb).

With a rating of 167, I Am Maximus is 3lb clear at the head of the weights, with the Venetia Williams-trained Royale Pagaille next in on 11st 9lb.

Grangeclare West and Nick Rockett are two of four horses on 11st 8lb along with Royale Pagaille’s high-profile stablemate L’Homme Presse and Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen, with last season’s King George hero Hewick seventh on the list as the only horse allotted 11st 7lb.

I Am Maximus is the 10-1 joint-favourite with the Grand National’s official betting partner William Hill alongside Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin (11st 5lb), who also carries the McManus silks.

The leading owner is also responsible for the well-fancied Iroko (10st 11lb), who is a 14-1 shot for the training partnership of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

With Gerri Colombe scratched and Your Own Story and Motu Fareone not qualified, a total of 87 horses remain in Grand National contention, 47 of which are trained in Ireland.

As was the case for the first time last year, the field is restricted to 34 runners, but having previously been scrapped, there will be four reserves in 2025.