I Am Maximus storms to famous second win in the Grand National
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.
n 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 from the elbow 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.
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.
“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.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub