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I Am Maximus made history when becoming the first horse to regain the Grand National since the Aintree legend Red Rum in the 1970s.

The top-weight, who was backed into favouritism late in the day, was victorious in an incident-packed race, winning again after a memorable victory in 2024.

In a race with plenty of early drama that saw last year’s third Grangeclare West part company with Patrick Mullins – who won last year aboard Nick Rockett – at the first, and Panic Attack fall at the third, I Am Maximus tracked the inside path he knows so well in the hands of Paul Townend.

As the race began to develop, Ben Jones made a bold bid to supplement his King George win on The Jukebox Man aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Jordans after two out – but a JP McManus-owned challenge was looming and it was the heavily-backed 9-2 market leader who stormed home best from the elbow to win the race for a second time, having also finished second 12 months ago.

It was a record fourth win in the race for McManus, who also saw his Iroko go two places better than last year for second – another first in the race for one owner to have the first two home. Jordans was third, with Johnnywho fourth.

The victorious jockey, who was completing the Gold Cup and Grand National double this season, said afterwards: “He’s tough, isn’t he? He still didn’t travel with the enthusiasm of the first year but the cheekpieces helped in the middle of the race.”

Townend was rewarded for sticking with I Am Maximus and added: “He’s a really, really good horse, that’s why. He wasn’t telling me not to ride him. He’s so good. He’s got such an engine and will gallop to the end of the world for you.”

Trainer Willie Mullins, who joins Red Rum’s trainer Ginger McCain and Fred Rimell as a four-time National-winning handler, said: “It was a good call from JP, I’d been going down the Gold Cup route with him, but he said to stay in Aintree with him as he felt he was well handicapped. Paul just executed it so well.

“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.”

Full result:
1 I Am Maximus (Paul Townend) 9-2 Fav
2 Iroko (Jonjo O’Neill Jr.) 18-1
3 Jordans (Ben Jones) 28-1
4 Johnnywho (R P McLernon) 12-1

• Greg Wood’s big-race report to follow