Randox Grand National |
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| Grade 3 Handicap, Aintree 16:00 £1,000,000 guaranteed 7yo plus, 4m 2f 74y, Class 1  |
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1 I Am Maximus 9/2
2 Iroko 18/1
3 Jordans 28/1
4 Johnnywho 12/1
5 High Class Hero 66/1
34 ran Nick Rockett, Pied Piper, Spillane's Tower
Distances: 2½l, 1¼l, ½l Time: 9m 9.68s (slow by 3.68s)
🏆 I Am Maximus REGAINS the Randox Grand National! 🏆
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 11, 2026
The first horse since Red Rum to do so! @PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/k5tHGTvuYm
There are certain feats within the Grand National that transcend the annual narrative, achievements that place both horse and trainer into a more enduring context. I Am Maximus, in regaining his crown, has done precisely that, becoming the first since Red Rum to reclaim the race and in the process providing Willie Mullins with a third consecutive victory — a sequence not seen since the era of Vincent O’Brien.
This, though, was no procession. The race itself unfolded with the customary unpredictability, early drama shaping the complexion before the field had fully settled. Grangeclare West, so prominent in the build-up, departed at the first, while Panic Attack — carrying both weight of expectation and history — exited at the third, removing two significant players in quick succession.
Amid that disruption, I Am Maximus was afforded the opportunity to do what he does best. Under Paul Townend, he adopted a familiar route, hugging the inside and travelling with the assurance of a horse entirely at home over these unique fences. It was not a ride of flourish, but one of control, allowing the race to come to him rather than forcing the issue.
Turning for home, the contest began to take shape. Jordans, ridden boldly by Ben Jones, attempted to seize the initiative after the second last, his move injecting a new dimension into the closing stages. Yet even as he pressed on, there was a sense that others were travelling with greater purpose behind him.
From the elbow, the race resolved itself decisively. I Am Maximus, produced with precision, lengthened his stride and asserted with authority, storming past to secure a second victory in the race, having also filled the runner-up position 12 months earlier. Behind him, Iroko emerged with credit to complete a one-two for owner JP McManus — a notable achievement in a race rarely dominated by a single set of silks — while Jordans held on for third, with Johnnywho in fourth.
For Mullins, the result carried both personal and historical significance, his approach vindicated and his standing within the race further enhanced.
“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.”
In a race defined by its capacity for unpredictability, I Am Maximus provided something rarer — a performance of control and familiarity, executed with the confidence of a horse who understands both the task and the stage.
Randox Health Grand National
Grade 3, £1,000,000 guaranteed
7yo plus, 4m 2f 74y, Class 1
34 ran
Going: Good to Soft
previous winners | sweepstake kit
