I Am Maximus wins Grand National for second time

I Am Maximus has raced to victory at the 2026 Grand National in Aintree.

A field of 34 runners competed for the 2026 Randox Grand National title, including I Am Maximus that won in 2024, again ridden by Paul Townend.

The 10-year-old horse was a favourite for this year's race after narrowly losing to Nick Rockett in 2025.

Nick Rockett, who was withdrawn from this year's race due to a cough, and I Am Maximus were both trained by Willie Mullins, one of the top trainers in the sport.

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Mullins also trained seven other horses who competed on Saturday.

Other favourites for the race were Panic Attack, who won the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup at the end of 2025, and Jagwar, who won the TrustATrader Plate at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

I Am Maximus has become the first horse since Red Rum to regain his crown in the Randox Grand National.

Mullins also became the first trainer since Vincent O'Brien, in the 1950s, to win three successive editions of the Aintree spectacular.

The race was filled with early drama, with last year's third, Grangeclare West, parting company with jockey Patrick Mullins, who won last year aboard Nick Rockett, at the first with Panic Attack falling at the third.

Mullins, the trainer, said: "Paul just executed it so well. He's a superb horse who got a fantastic ride and I think the most trouble he got was from his stablemates and his co-pilots, they didn't give him much room.

"It is (hard to win off top-weight), but maybe the modern-day National is changing and we're looking at it a bit differently. It's the race we aspire (to win). It's the race you want to win and be a part of - just to have a runner is a tremendous sensation.

"He is just a superstar - nothing fazes him. He comes out, does what he has to do and wins Nationals."

He added: "It's the first race we all watch on television, it's the race you grow up wanting to win and just to have a runner in it is a tremendous sensation."

Asked if he thought I Am Maximus could emulate Red Rum with a historic third success next year, Mullins said: "I thought the horse ran a cracker last year, he just got beaten.

"Hopefully he'll be here next year, JP is very keen on the National for I Am Maximus, he says he loves the place and jumps the fences so well. Hopefully we'll all be here next year."

(c) Sky News 2026: I Am Maximus wins Grand National for second time