July 2026

Nick Rockett 2025

admin July 25, 2026

Following a narrow victory over Intense Raffles, who was conceding 3lb, in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on February 22, 2025, Nick Rockett was promoted to second favourite for the 2025 Grand National, trading at as short as 8/1 ante-post. However, by the time Grand National Day rolled around, he was one of six entries by his trainer, Willie Mullins, and, with stable jockey Paul Townend opting to maintain his partnership with the 2025 Grand National winner, I Am Maximus, the eight-year-old drifted out to 33/1 at the ‘off’.

Nevertheless, in the hands of leading amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, son of Willie, Nick Rockett travelled strongly throughout and, having taken a narrow lead two out, kept on well in the closing stages to win by two-and-a-half lengths. His nearest pursuer, the aforementioned I Am Maximus, who was conceding 4lb, challenged on the run-in, but could find no extra in the last half-furlong and, as defending champion, was carried out on his shield.

On what turned out to be a red-letter day for Willie Mullins, Grangeclare West, ridden by Brian Hayes, made a mistake at the final fence, but stayed on to finish third, half a length behind I Am Maximus and, in so doing, completed a notable 1-2-3 for the County Carlow trainer. The starting-price favourite, Iroko, finished fourth and another of the Mullins-trained sextet, Meetingofthewaters, fifth. The second, fourth and fifth horses home all carried the iconic green and gold silks of Irish billionaire John Patrick ‘J.P.’ McManus.

For the record, with the Grand National Course routinely watered to maintain the going on the soft side of good, a maximum field of 34 horses went to post, of which 16 completed the course. Of those that did not, three horses fell, including the well-fancied Perceval Legallois, one unseated rider and one was brought down.

Grangeclare West 2027

admin July 25, 2026

Owned by Cheveley Park Stud and trained by Willie Mullins, Grangeclare West has already run in the Grand National twice, finishing a close third behind stable companion Nick Rockett in 2025 and unseating jockey Patrick Mullins after a mistake at the very first fence when well fancied for the 2026 renewal. In between times, the son of multiple champion jumps sire Presenting had demonstrated his well-being with a cosy, five-and-a-half-length win in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse – a race won by both Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus – despite blundering at the final fence.

It is worth noting that by the time the 2027 Grand National rolls around, on April 10, 2027, Grangeclare West will be an 11-year-old. The last horse of that age to win the celebrated steeplechase was Pineau de Re in 2014, but that statistic aside, Grangeclare West appears to be fairly priced at 25/1 in the early ante-post market. He is currently officially rated 161, 2lb lower than when third in 2025 and, although the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) handicapper will have the final say when the Grand National weights are published in mid-February, he should not be overburdened for his third attempt.

Described by Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend as “a class animal” after winning the Bobbyjo Chase, Grangeclare West has hardly been a prolific winner over fences, with his victory at Fairyhouse his first since December 2023. However, more often that not he has been highly tried – keeping company with his Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stable companions Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs, among others, in recent times – so he has more going for him than his 3-14 record over regulation fences might otherwise suggest. All of his six wins under National Hunt Rules have come on going officially described as “yielding” or softer, but his National third came on “good to soft”, so underfoot conditions at Aintree should be no cause for concern.

I Am Maximus 2026

admin July 25, 2026

Owned by John McManus and trained by Willie Mullins, I Am Maximus had already won the 2024 Grand National and finished a creditable second to stable companion Nick Rockett in the 2025 renewal when he lined up for his third attempt, as a 10-year-old, at Aintree on April 11, 2026. Indeed, despite top weight of 11st 12lb, and being beaten 25 lengths by stable companion Fact Or File in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on his previous start, I Am Maximus was the subject of late betting support, forcing his price in to 9/2 favourite at the ‘off’.

Ultimately, the market support proved well justified because, having jumped the final fence in fourth place, the son of 2007 Derby winner Authorized lead inside the final furlong and stayed on to win by two-and-a-half lengths. In so doing, he became the first horse since the legendary Red Rum, in 1977, to regain his Grand National crown. Iroko, another of McManus’ six Grand National entries, finished second, Jordans third and Johnnywho, also owned by McManus, fourth.

Although he has decided, on medical advice, to step down from his job of setting the weights for the Grand National, Martin Greenwood, senior handicapper at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), was sufficiently impressed to award I Am Maximus a provisional handicap rating of 173. A 5lb weight rise for winning a second Grand National may not seem excessive, but it is worth noting that the other dual winner of recent times, Tiger Roll, was officially rated just 171 after his ready, two-and-a-quarter-length victory in 2019.

Reflecting on his third consecutive win in the Grand National – a feat last achieved by compatriot Vincent O’Brien in 1955 – Mullins told the BBC, “That is some company to be up there with Vincent O’Brien. He is a legend of legends in the game. To be lucky enough to be mentioned in the same breath as him is just off the charts. You never dream of that sort of thing.” Ever the contender, I Am Maximus is likely to take part in the 2027 Grand National too.

I Am Maximus 2027

admin July 25, 2026

Having carried top weight of 11st 12lb to victory in the 2026 Grand National and, in so doing, become the first horse since Red Rum, in 1977, to regain his title, I Am Maximus has claims to be the greatest National winner of modern times. Indeed, the 10-year-old – who will, of course, turn 11 on January 1, 2027 – was awarded a Timeform rating of 171, 5lb higher than Red Rum and 6lb higher than the other recent dual winner, Tiger Roll. A 5lb rise in the weights, which increases his official rating to 173, which is higher than all bar three of the last 10 winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will undoubtedly make life more difficult, but it is easy to see why I Am Maximus has been installed as the early 12/1 favourite for the 2027 Grand National ante-post.

Of course, I Am Maximus is owned by John Patrick ‘J.P.’ McManus, trained by Willie Mullins and has been ridden, in all three Grand National attempts, by Mullins’ stable jockey, Paul Townend, none of whom require much introduction to afficianados of the National Hunt game. Twice a winner for Nicky Henderson, I Am Maximus was transferred to Mullins in November 2022 and, the following March, acquired by McManus from previous owner Michael Grech shortly after finishing fourth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

On his first start for his new owner, as a 149-rated seven-year-old, I Am Maximus won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. However, in recent years, he has made the Grand National proper his own, winning in 2024 and 2026 and finishing a close second to stable companion Nick Rockett in 2025. Any description of him is likely to be heavy on superlatives, but justifiably so, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Authorized gelding.