Grand National: I Am Maximus wins back Aintree crown for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend
I Am Maximus became the first horse since Red Rum to regain his crown in the Randox Grand National, as Willie Mullins also became the first trainer since Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s to win three successive editions of the Aintree spectacular.
Saturday 11 April 2026 18:13, UK
I Am Maximus made history in the 2026 Randox Grand National, becoming the first horse to regain his title since the legendary Red Rum.
In a race with plenty of early drama that saw last year's third Grangeclare West part company with Patrick Mullins - who won last year aboard Nick Rockett - at the first, and Panic Attack fall at the third, I Am Maximus tracked the inside path he knows so well in the hands of Paul Townend.
As the race began to develop, Ben Jones made a bold bid to supplement his King George win on The Jukebox Man aboard Joseph O'Brien's Jordans after two out - but a JP McManus-owned challenge was looming and it was the heavily-backed 9-2 favourite who stormed home best after the final jump to win the race for a second time, having also finished second 12 months ago.
It was a record fourth win in the race for McManus, who also saw his Iroko go two places better than last year for second - another first in the race for one owner to have the first two home. Jordans was third, with Johnnywho fourth.
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Mullins, who joins Red Rum's trainer Ginger McCain and Fred Rimell as a four-time National-winning handler, said: "It was a good call from JP, I'd been going down the Gold Cup route with him, but he said to stay in Aintree with him as he felt he was well handicapped. Paul just executed it so well.
"He's a superb horse who got a fantastic ride and I think the most trouble he got was from his stablemates and his co-pilots, they didn't give him much room.
"It is (hard to win off top-weight), but maybe the modern-day National is changing and we're looking at it a bit differently.
"It's the race we aspire (to win). It's the race you want to win and be a part of - just to have a runner is a tremendous sensation.
"He is just a superstar - nothing fazes him. He comes out, does what he has to do and wins Nationals."
He added: "It's the first race we all watch on television, it's the race you grow up wanting to win and just to have a runner in it is a tremendous sensation."
Asked if he thought I Am Maximus could further emulate Red Rum with a historic third success next year, Mullins said: "I thought the horse ran a cracker last year, he just got beaten.
"Hopefully he'll be here next year, JP is very keen on the National for I Am Maximus, he says he loves the place and jumps the fences so well. Hopefully we'll all be here next year."
A delighted Townend said: "He's tough, isn't he? He'll gallop to the end of the world for you.
"He still probably didn't travel with the enthusiasm of the first year, but I just thought the cheekpieces helped in the middle part of the race.
"I saw the one that went in front, but I wasn't going to be the one chasing him, I had enough going OK in front of me and I was able to get a lead to the elbow."
Home By The Lee much too strong in Liverpool Hurdle
Home By The Lee followed up his Stayers' Hurdle success at the Cheltenham Festival with a dominant display in the Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle.
Joseph O'Brien's 11-year-old was a shock 33-1 winner at Prestbury Park, but was much shorter in the betting at 5-1 to complete a double last achieved by Sire du Berlais in 2023.
Given an enterprising ride by J J Slevin, Home By The Lee was asked to stride on during the second circuit of the three-mile Grade One and although some of the leading names were stacked up waiting to make their challenge entering the home straight, one by one they wilted as the veteran galloped to a seven-length success.
O'Brien said: "He's been a star for a number of years and we've obviously been learning about him as well.
"He's run great in a lot of staying races, but if you asked me at the start of the year whether I thought he'd win the two races at Cheltenham and here, you'd be dreaming to think that.
"We had a plan today that once they got down the back straight J J was going to inject the pace and he really stepped it up down the back. We said whoever was going to win today was going to outstay us and he outstayed all of them.
"Everyone said the track didn't suit him here, but we've been riding him a little bit differently and we were happy enough that we could take the blame for his two trips here before.
"He's obviously an older horse, but he's just in great shape and we felt if we could get him here in the same shape as he was at Cheltenham and employ similar tactics, that he could potentially outstay them again today."
