Grand National 2026: I Am Maximus makes history with second National Win

I Am Maximus won the 2026 Grand National at Aintree, becoming the first horse since Red Rum to regain the race after previously winning in 2024.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, ridden by Paul Townend, produced a controlled, staying performance to beat Iroko into second, with Jordans in third.

Sent off favourite at around 9/2, I Am Maximus was settled in mid-division as the field went out over the first circuit. Townend avoided getting involved in the early pace, allowing others to take each other on over the Grand National fences while his mount jumped cleanly and held position without using up energy.

As the race developed, several of the early leaders began to come under pressure approaching the final fences. At that stage, I Am Maximus was still travelling well enough to move into contention without being asked for a serious effort. Turning for home, he was close enough to challenge, and once straightened up, he stayed on strongly through the final half-mile.

He took the lead in the closing stages and pulled clear late on, finishing with a clear advantage over Iroko, who stayed on for second but never reached the winner. Jordans kept on for third after being in the leading group turning for home.

Behind the front three, a number of well-fancied runners failed to finish or were never involved after mistakes at key fences, continuing the race’s usual pattern of attrition. Several horses were pulled up or lost their chance mid-race, underlining again how quickly the Grand National can move away from the top of the market.

The win puts I Am Maximus into a small group of dual Grand National winners. Red Rum is the only other horse in modern history to win the race more than once, with back-to-back wins in the 1970s and a third victory in 1977. I Am Maximus now has two wins in three attempts at Aintree, plus a runner-up finish last year.

For Willie Mullins, it was another Grand National victory, adding to his record in major staying handicaps and Grade 1 races at Aintree. For Townend, it was another superb ride.

The beaten favourites included several who were expected to run well but failed to land a serious blow once the race began to stretch. Some were outpaced turning for home, while others lost momentum after jumping errors late on. In a race that often rewards clear jumping and stamina over reputation, few of the market principals were able to match the winner’s consistency through the second half of the contest.

In the end, the race had a clear outcome. I Am Maximus stayed on strongest, delivered the decisive move from the final fences, and cemented his place as one of the Grand National’s greatest horses.