Maximus delight again for McManus, with matching Red Rum the dream

As a dual Randox Grand National hero, I Am Maximus is assured of his place in Aintree history – and for those closest to him the possibility of equalling Red Rum with three Nationals is now firmly in sight.

The 10-year-old looked to have the potential of becoming a Liverpool great when first winning the world’s most famous steeplechase in 2024 – and while he found stablemate Nick Rockett too strong 12 months ago, he returned as the 9-2 favourite to become the first horse since Ginger McCain’s superstar to regain the National crown.

With incidents aplenty taking place around him, I Am Maximus was not always foot-perfect in the hands of Paul Townend, but slowly but surely he stealthily moved into contention and there was an inevitably about the result when he went in pursuit of the bold-jumping Jordans approaching the elbow.

He found plenty to run down the leader and gallop to glory once again, a result which sees owner JP McManus become the most successful owner in National history with four victories, while trainer Willie Mullins was also winning the race for a fourth time, putting him alongside George Dockeray, who trained the first ever winner, Lottery, in 1839, Fred Rimell and McCain as the joint record holder.

There is very little McManus has not won during his long and storied spell in the sport, but the enormity of winning this most prestigious of prizes once again was not lost on him as he celebrated the success alongside his wife Noreen, who has recently suffered ill health, and the rest of his family.

“I’m here with nine grandchildren, all my family and there are lads back at home that play such a big part in it on the farm,” said McManus, also the owner of runner-up Iroko and fourth home Johnnywho.

“It’ll mean a lot to so many. There’ll be a few tears shed along the way, I just saw Noreen there and she’s very emotional about it.

“Noreen is a fighter. This time last year if you heard you were going to win a Grand National and we’d all be here to celebrate it it would be a great result. It’s a very special day.”

Only seven horses have won more the Grand National more than once and only one has won three, with Red Rum going back-to-back in 1973 and 1974 before unforgettably completing the hat-trick three years later.

McManus – who conceded he had a “little on” his heavily-backed winner – added: “The Grand National is something very special and there is such a tradition with it.

“We have a bit do to catch up with Red Rum, but we’ll definitely try! Red Rum is the figurehead of the National, it’s nice to be even mentioned in the same breath as Red Rum.

“When you have a horse like that you only aim for these things. It would be great to be the second three-time winner, but we’ll celebrate this one first and we’ll see what unfolds.”

Like McManus, Mullins is a man who tears up the record books with staggering regularity, this latest achievement seeing him become the first trainer since Vincent O’Brien in 1953, 1954 and 1955 to win three consecutive Nationals.

The master of Closutton is also dreaming of another triumph in 2027.

He said: “It’s extraordinary and I’m delighted. You could never dream of doing something like this. Thanks to this man (McManus) things that are not even dreams are coming true.

“Hopefully I’ll be here next year and hopefully I Am Maximus will – I’d imagine JP won’t hear of anything else!

“He’s a Gold Cup horse I think and wouldn’t be out of place running in the Gold Cup any day of the week.

“We’ll play a little game, I’ll stick him in the Gold Cup, JP will take him back out and I’ll stick him back in! That’s what was happening this year, but JP wanted to skip the Gold Cup and he was proved so right.

“The race certainly delivered atmosphere and excitement. I think the Grand National delivered in spades this year for atmosphere.”

Next on I Am Maximus’ agenda is the traditional homecoming parade in his local village of Leighlinbridge, with Mullins hoping his charge is better behaved than he was two years ago.

He said: “We generally visit every pub in the village and then we come back into The Lord Bagenal car park and there’s an ice cream van and people want their photograph taken with the horse.

“Galopin Des Champs was there for about an hour and a half after he won the Gold Cup and Lossiemouth was probably there for two hours this year after she won the Champion Hurdle, but the last time we went with I Am Maximus he ate about three babies and kicked about four pensioners – we had to load him up and take him home after about five minutes!

“That’s I Am Maximus – he will eat you without salt! If people are coming tell them there’ll be free ice cream, but their chance of getting a picture, I’m not sure.”

Despite his latest big-race success, Mullins has given up hope of retaining his title as British champion trainer, with Dan Skelton this year holding a significant advantage.

He added: “I don’t think there’s enough prize-money left to overtake him and we’ll pass on the trophy.

“We’ve eaten all the sweets in the trophy. I should have left a few for Dan! We might buy him a packet in Sandown.”