A Grand National that was in the balance until after the final fence was decided by an irresistible burst of finishing speed. I Am Maximus, who takes his name from a fictional gladiator, landed the decisive blow with half a furlong to run under an impeccable, ground-saving ride by Paul Townend.
The 7-1 joint-favourite did not hit the front until just past the Elbow, but finished to such effect that he was seven-and-a-half lengths clear of Delta Work at the line, with Minella Indo, a former Gold Cup winner himself, back in third spot.
The victory was Townend’s first in the race, and a second for Willie Mullins, I Am Maximus’s trainer, following Hedgehunter’s success, also at 7-1, back in 2005.
Mullins has become the dominant force in jump racing in the 19 years between his two Grand National wins, and the £500,000 first prize puts him in pole position to become the first Irish-based trainer to win the UK trainers’ championship since Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s.
This was the first National since several changes were made to the course and conditions in an attempt to reduce the number of fallers. Remarkably, while four runners – including Corach Rambler, last year’s winner – unseated their riders, and seven more were pulled up by their jockeys when out of contention, 21 of the 32 starters completed the course and there were no fallers.
It did not diminish from the spectacle in any way. The result was a compelling race and the new, shortened run to the first meant the drama started even more swiftly than usual. Corach Rambler, who was attempting to emulate Red Rum and Tiger Roll by winning a second National, instead suffered the same embarrassment as Aldaniti, the 1981 winner, by departing at the first obstacle the following year.
Corach Rambler was the only runner to depart the race until the field reached the famous Chair fence in front of the stands, where two big fancies, Mahler Mission and Mr Incredible, unseated their riders. A handful more were pulled up as the field worked its way around the second circuit, but a large group of runners were not only still standing, but in with a realistic chance of success as the field got to the business end of the race.
Gina Andrews, Britain’s most successful female amateur, was up with the pace and travelling well on Latenightpass with two to jump, while Rachael Blackmore, who rode the winner in front of empty stands in 2021, was going even better aboard Minella Indo, the Gold Cup winner that year.