I Am Maximus wins Grand National for trainer Mullins

I Am Maximus wins Grand National for trainer Mullins

Willie Mullins, the Irish trainer, secured his third straight victory in the Grand National at Aintree, with Paul Townend guiding I Am Maximus to triumph. The 2024 winner, who had finished second the previous year, came into the race as the 9-2 favorite and delivered on that expectation, edging out competitors like Iroko, Jordans, and Johnnywho.

The achievement makes Mullins the first trainer since Vincent O’Brien (1953–1955) to win the Grand National in three consecutive years. This milestone also elevates JP McManus as the leading owner in the race’s history, with four victories—Don’t Push It (2010), Minella Times (2021), I Am Maximus (2024), and now another win. McManus’s stable claimed three of the top four finishers, with Jordans being the exception.

I Am Maximus’s success marked a significant moment, as the horse carried a top weight of 11st 12lbs—becoming the first to win under such a load since Red Rum’s record-breaking 12 stone triumph in 1974. Paul Townend, reflecting on the win, expressed his pride:

“He’s tough. He’s a really, really good horse, and although Grangeclare West and Nick Rockett looked strong in training, this lad wasn’t telling me not to ride him. He’s so good and has such an engine. He’ll gallop to the end of the world for you. I’m really privileged. What a horse. Grand Nationals and Gold Cups are the pinnacle of the sport, and I have them both.”

Grand National 2026 result: Where your horse finished

With the top three finishers from the previous year in his stable, Mullins entered the 2026 event with confidence. However, McManus’s ownership of I Am Maximus influenced the decision, steering Mullins away from the Gold Cup route.

“It was a good call from JP [McManus]. I’d have gone down the Gold Cup route with him, but he wanted to run him at Aintree. This horse is just a superstar. Nothing fazes him, and he does what he has to do—runs, jumps, and wins Nationals. Paul executed it so well. This is the race we all aspire to when we get into racing. Just to have a runner is a tremendous sensation.”

The race saw 16 of 34 starters cross the finish line. Quai de Bourbon and Mr Vango were removed from the track after falls, while Robbie Dunne was hospitalized following a tumble on Stellar Story. In another race, Dan Skelton claimed four victories across the day’s seven events, including wins with Mirabad, Bossman Jack, Mr Hope Street, and Forthfactor.

Tragedy struck during the second race when Get On George, a six-year-old, was pulled up by Jack Tudor and later euthanized. This made it the second fatality of the Aintree meeting, following Gold Dancer’s earlier demise. The drama unfolded in the opening stages, as Patrick Mullins, last year’s jockey on Nick Rockett, was thrown from the favored Grangeclare West at the second fence. Panic Attack, the only mare and second favorite, also fell at the third obstacle, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.