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.