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.

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 was an early hint that he had 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 (2025) the gelding hasn’t had one career fall, won the Grand National in 2024, and is regularly winning or placing top 4 elsewhere.

Full Results

Early Successes

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 14 starts prior to the 2024 Grand National, he won five 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 strong chance of glory at the Grand National in 2024. Paul, having been Mullin’s apprentice, was the best jockey to tackle the 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, too. Although the first horse to the first fence, 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.

Almost Records Back-to-Back Wins in 2025

I Am Maximus almost wrote his name into the Grand National history books as a back-to-back winner of the race in 2025, when he finished a close second as he tried to win the contest for the second consecutive year.

Still trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, the horse had plenty more weight on his back after winning in 2024 and was carrying top weight in the contest. Given a good ride, jumping well and being brought into contention by Townend, he held every chance jumping the last.

But in the closing stages, the big weight on his back told, and Nick Rockett, who was a stablemate also trained by Mullins, would come past him to claim the crown.

I Am Maximus was a gallant second and part of what was a 1-2-3 for Team Mullins, having to settle for second despite an excellent run.