The Grand National’s brutal puzzle has a simple solution: back Willie Mullins. For the third year running, the master trainer cracked the code, sending I Am Maximus to a historic victory in front of 59,962 roaring fans at Aintree.
This wasn’t just another win. It was a record-equaling, history-making stampede. With this triumph, Mullins notched his fourth Grand National victory, pulling level with training legends Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain. For owner JP McManus, it was also a record-breaking fourth National win.
But the real headline is the three-peat. Mullins becomes the first trainer since Vincent O’Brien—who ruled from 1953 to 1955—to win the world’s most famous steeplechase three years in a row.
“He is just a superstar,” Mullins said of his champion. “He comes out and does what he has to do. He jumps and gallops and stays. Nothing fazes him.”
The race itself was a tactical masterclass under fire. Jockey Paul Townend had to navigate chaos. I Am Maximus was blocked repeatedly on the second circuit. When the 28-1 shot Jordans kicked clear and built a seven-length lead turning for home, the upset was real.
“When Jordans kicked off the third-last I was thinking ‘Has he stolen it?’” Mullins admitted. “But you can’t, unless you have Arkle.”
Townend stayed ice-cool. “Paul didn’t get flustered. He just sat and sat and tried to pick out the gap,” Mullins recounted. “When he got out, I thought, ‘wow’. You could see it was all over, unless something came from the clouds.”
The jockey was full of praise for the team behind the horse. “It’s some performance to get the horse to turn up three years in a row,” Townend said. “I am a lucky man to be riding for Willie Mullins.”
Of I Am Maximus—who he also piloted to victory in 2024—Townend added: “He is a quirky devil, but he is a brave horse and very clever. He’s been very good to me.”
The betting markets told their own story of confidence. In a frenetic final 30 minutes before the off, I Am Maximus’s odds plummeted from 7-1 down to 9-2 favourite. One high-stakes punter placed a staggering £100,000 wager at 8-1. The bookies felt the sting.
Owner JP McManus, the legendary punter once nicknamed ‘The Sundance Kid’ in Ireland’s betting rings, played it coy about his own stake. “I had a little on,” was his familiar, understated reply.
But McManus was crystal clear about the future. He confirmed the target is to bring I Am Maximus back next year to chase Red Rum’s iconic record of three Grand National victories. “We’ve a bit to do to catch up, but we will definitely try,” McManus stated. “Red Rum is the figurehead of the National and it is nice to be mentioned in the same breath.”
At 69 years old, Mullins shows zero signs of slowing down. He praised his team for preparing the horses through the wettest winter he’s seen in four decades. “I am buying horses and trying to build,” he declared. “I love racing. I love the people in racing. I like people in sport.”
He knows the game’s brutal reality. “Racing is a game of disappointments. You lose more than you win. It’s a great leveller. So when you have a good day you really enjoy it.”
The smile on his face said it all. Willie Mullins is reveling in this golden era—and his hunger for more history is far from satisfied.
