Grand National 2026: I Am Maximus makes history at Aintree

I Am Maximus cemented his place in Grand National history with a second victory at Aintree Racecourse, as Willie Mullins continued his remarkable dominance in the race.

Sent off as the 9-2 favourite, I Am Maximus delivered on expectations, pulling clear late on to finish ahead of Iroko, Jordans and Johnnywho.

The win marked back-to-back National triumphs for the horse, having also landed the race the previous year.

For Mullins, it was a fourth Grand National success overall and, notably, a third in succession, a feat not achieved since Vincent O’Brien completed a similar run in the 1950s.

The victory also strengthened JP McManus’ position as the race’s most successful owner in modern times, with four wins to his name. His colours were prominent again this year, with three of the first four finishers coming from his stable.

I Am Maximus added another layer of history by carrying top weight to victory, becoming the first horse to do so since Red Rum achieved the feat in 1974.

The race itself began with early drama. Patrick Mullins was unseated at the second fence aboard Grangeclare West, while leading contender Panic Attack fell at the third.

As the race developed, Ben Jones made a bold move on Jordans approaching the closing stages, but Paul Townend, riding I Am Maximus, timed his challenge to perfection before taking control in the final stretch.

Out of the 34 runners who started, only 16 managed to complete the demanding course, underlining the scale of the test once again.