I Am Maximus

 

Foaled in 2016, French bred I Am Maximus was originally trained by Nicky Henderson, then moved over to the Mullins team in 2022. He was purchased by J P McManus in March 2023, moving over to Ireland to join Mullins Yard after s stint with Nicky Henderson before.

I Am Maximus made an unbelievable return from what was set to be a total washout for him at the Irish Grand National in 2023. He was last with 9 fences to go yet something powered within and he took the victory. A slow start or was he just warming up, biding his time while the others fell away? This may be the type of stamina that is needed for the Grand National.

Jockeys are likely to call him a difficult horse, with jumping off left and being a bit scatty when it really matters to jump clear and strong. That said, to date (2024) the gelding hasn’t had one career fall and is placing top 4 regularly.

Full Results

Success To Date

I Am Maximus, regularly placing in the top four in his races has shown he is at ease when racing at Fairyhouse. His notable successes being in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February 2024, coming first, beating Vanillier and showing brute force in doing so.  Then again coming first prior in December 2023 in the Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. Seeing the success and growing confidence, despite I Am Maximum having some quirks and occasionally a mind of his own, Willie Mullins knew the Grand National was within his sights. Of his 15 starts to date (2024), he has won six and placed in five.

2024 Grand National Winner

With champion trainer Willie Mullins and Paul Townend riding, I Am Maximus was always set to have a sure chance of glory at the Grand National in 2024. Paul, having been Mullin’s apprentice, was the best jockey to tackle a somewhat sparky and slightly unpredictable horse that I Am Maximus is. While having 12 attempts at the Grand National up to 2024 but only completing the course three times, you mustn’t overlook that Paul was Champion Jockey at Cheltenham first time in 2020 and has significant credentials in jump racing. on his 13th attempt Paul took the win, with I am Maximus.

I Am Maximus was joint favourite starting price, therefore a lot of punters money will have been riding on him. Although the first horse to the first fence, a swift start. Lack of fluency and champion style finesse in his jumping up to the first 15 fences may have suggested he was going to fade into midfield for the remainder of the race. However that was not to be. Conserving energy in readiness for the motoring end was his plan and Willie Mullins commented to reporters that he could tell in Paul’s calm body language that things were going well all the while.

Throughout the core of the second circuit, along with a cluster of the other horse that were to place within the top ten, I Am Maximum took it steady and hugged the inside. Paul Townend will have used his muscle memory knowledge of the course to track what he felt to be the most economical route. It really wasn’t until the last fence that we would have considered any one horse to be in the makings of the 2024 champion, in fact it looked like Minella Indo was going to take the lead, but something within I Am Maximus ignited and simply motored on through after the elbow. Taking the win with a respectable seven lengths despite there being such a close field locked in together right up until the very end.