Grand National 2024 – I Am Maximus storms to victory in Aintree showpiece

Last year's Irish Grand National hero doubles up to give trainer Wille Mullins a second victory, jockey Paul Townend a first and owner JP McManus a record-equalling third success in the world's greatest steeplechase

Grand National 2024 – I Am Maximus storms to victory in Aintree showpiece

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After a brief hiatus last year the Irish again dominated the 2024 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse as I Am Maximus (7-1 joint favourite) stormed to victory.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old – who had won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse last year – completed the double when scoring superbly by seven-and-a-half lengths, under jockey Paul Townend, from Gordon Elliott's Delta Work (28-1) with 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo (28-1) a gallant third, under Rachael Blackmore, half-a-length back. Elliott's Galvin (40-1) was a further neck back in fourth, with the Welsh trainer Christian Williams' Kitty's Light (12-1) a length-and-three-quarters back in fifth and the British-trained horse to finish.

Last year's winner, the Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler (7-1 joint favourite), unseated his rider Derek Fox at the first fence as only two horses trained in Britain – Dan Skelton's Galia Des Liteaux seventh – in the first 10 home out of an incredible 21 finishers of the 32-strong field.

It was a continuation of Ireland's domination, well County Carlow handler Mullins in particular, of the biggest races in Britian as the master of Closutton won his second Grand National 19 years on from his first with Trevor Hemmings' Hedgehunter in 2005. Powerful Irish owner JP McManus – who won the National previously with Don't Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021) – joined Hemmings on three victories in the Aintree showpiece and joins James Machell (Disturbance 1873, Reugny 1874 and Regal 1876), Sir Charles Assheton-Smith, previously Charles Duff, (Cloister 1893, Jerry M 1912 and Covertcoat 1913), Noel Le Mare (Red Rum 1973, 1974 and 1977), Hemmings (Hedgehunter 2005, Ballabriggs 2011 and Many Clouds 2015) and Gigginstown House Stud (Rule The World 2016 and Tiger Roll 2018 & 2019) as the seventh owner to seal the treble of triumphs.

Mullins, who had won the Champion Hurdle with State Man and the Gold Cup with Galopin Des Champs at last month's Cheltenham Festival, added another massive prize in Britain. He said: "It's an unbelievable race and an unbelievable horse and it's a bit surreal to be honest."

The Irish trainer paid tribute to horse and jockey as he claimed a fifth winner of the three-day Grand National Festival, He said: "It was an excellent ride. I had said before the race that we didn't know how good this horse was, today he showed that he's better than he had been. I thought he still had a little bit from the handicapper after the Bobbyjo and he's proved it today.

"Paul was excellent, he kidded him round the inside, he got chopped up a couple of times and probably didn't jump as clean as he could, but he was looking for the gaps and when he eventually got it he was all right.

"I could see Paul's body language and he was happy, so I was happy then. I don't think I said anything until he got over the last and then I let go (and gave him a cheer). He's a tremendous horse. He has his own way of doing things, he's quirky and immature but he's learning all the time. Nicky Henderson had him before me and said to me 'make sure you get him' and it was fine advice, Nicky could see the talent that he had and we just had to nurture it. To win an Irish National and an English National is impressive."

Mullins believes I Am Maximus could be a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender to challenge his dual winner Galopin Des Champs. He added: "I think he could be a Gold Cup horse, but we don't know how good he could be because he doesn't do it at home. He's quirky, but he has huge ability and until others get the better of him, we won't know how good he is."

With the winnings for landing the National around £500,000, Mullins is now odds-on favourite with Ladbrokes and Betfair to win the British trainers' title ahead of Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls. And he is certainly up for the fight, adding: "Now we've won the National we'll have to give it a good go, we are there with a chance so we might see you all in Sandown, Perth, Ayr – where is there!

"I'm buzzing here now at the moment and it's huge. As far as I know our team is back in full order with no injuries or anything and I'm happy that we have a full compliment of horses and riders coming back in."

After winning the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February, I Am Maximus was backed in to among the favourites for the race and he went off at the joint market leader with last year's hero Corach Rambler. He was tucked away deep in the pack for much of the race but as Henry De Bromhead's Minella Indo and Delta Work went for glory coming to the Elbow, I Am Maximus was tucked in behind ready to pounce. Then after the Elbow, Townend took him to outside to challenge and he put clear daylight between himself and his rivals. And on his 13th ride in the race Townend powered to glory with a first victory.

Townend said: "I ended up being first down to the first to give him a look and as he got to the Melling Road he started backing off so it wasn't a great start, but the volume of horses pushed him down over the first three and he got a bit careful on the second circuit but I was trying to conserve as much as I could as well.

"He didn't get the clearest run from the second last to the last, but it kind of helped me and I had a feeling when I got him out he was going to start motoring in the clear air and he did.

"The ones in front of me, I'm sure they weren't looking for me but I had them well in my sights. I was hoping he would respond like I thought he would. Gold Cups are Gold Cups and Grade Ones are hard to win. But Grand Nationals are just a bit different. You just need so much luck and I can't believe it, I'm a lucky boy.

A jubilant Townend said: "At halfway he was a bit careful with his jumping, but we just built his confidence back up again and then going over the last two I had the four horses in front of me that I wanted in front of me. I was hoping when I pulled him out that he'd pick up and go and he did.

"This is a special place, you grew up building Grand National fences built out of whatever you could get your hands on. It's a dream to win it. You build a course and your ponies probably know when it's National time as you'd have the green fences out! It's just a race that captures the imagination.

"The feeling passing the line is up there with the best I've had, but it's a different feeling. Grade Ones are extra special and tactical and in the Irish National and English National you need a bit of luck, the feeling winning this is unique.

"It's a special feeling when they start picking up passing the elbow. You honestly don't hear any of the noise from the crowd, at that stage you're in full drive and you're not thinking of anything other than getting to the lollipop stick (winning post) before something passes you."

Townend added a first National win to his successes in the Champion Hurdle with State Man and the Gold Cup with Galopin Des Champs and is one of very few jockeys to do achieve that treble, especially in the space of just four weeks. He added: "I have to pinch myself all the time to be honest. It's fairytale stuff."

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