I Am Maximus eyes rare Grand National redemption as Mullins chases history

The Willie Mullins trained I Am Maximus heads to Saturday’s Randox Grand National seeking to become the first horse to lose and reclaim his Grand National title since Aintree legend Red Rum achieved that feat almost fifty years ago.

Red Rum ultimately came away as a three-time winner of this famous race winning the Grand National in 1973 and 1974, but then had to settle for two runner-up finishes in the next two years, before returning to the winner’s enclosure and regaining his crown in 1977.

Last year Mullins saddled the first three runners past the post in the 2025 Grand National, with the $33 chance Nick Rockett upstaging his more fancied stable companion I Am Maximus ($7) … who finished second … with another $33 Mullins stable chance, Grangeclare West finishing in third place.

Nick Rockett was ridden by Willie Mullins’ son, Patrick, which prompted the lovely quote from Willie Mullins … “To sire the winning rider and to train the winner, I don’t think anything can be better than this.”

With the success of I Am Maximus (2024) and Nick Rockett (2025), Willie Mullins will be taking aim at a three-peat in Saturday’s Grand National challenge, and the stable has fully loaded up with no less than nine stable runners due to face the starter in the thirty-four strong field.

The runners who filled the first three places last year are involved gain … I Am Maximus will be ridden by Paul Townsend, who was aboard the Authorised gelding in both victory and defeat over the last two years … last year’s third place-getter, Grangeclare West will be ridden this time around by Patrick Mullins, who has chosen to shift off Nick Rockett, leaving the way clear for Tom Bellamy to pick up the ride on last year’s winner Nick Rockett.

Other Willie Mullins trained runners include … Spanish Harlem, Lecky Watson, Champ Kiely, Quai De Bourbon, High Class Hero and Captain Cody.

I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West, both ten year-olds, are currently joint favourites at $7.

Captain Cody and Nick Rockett are both at $16. Quai De Bourbon is a $33 chance with bookmakers, Spanish Harlem, Champ Kiely and Lecky Watson are all at $40 and High Class Hero is all the way out at $66.