I Am Maximus etched his name in Grand National folklore after winning the famous race for a second time, adding 2026 to his 2024 triumph.

A chaotic race was disrupted by loose horses all over the Aintree course, but Paul Townend has been here before and he masterfully steered I Am Maximus through the traffic to victory, pegging back Jordans, ridden by Ben Jones, in the final furlong.

History was written in myriad ways. I Am Maximus is the first horse to regain the title since Red Rum, having come up short to stablemate Nick Rockett last year. Willie Mullins becomes the first trainer to record three successive Grand National winners since the great Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s. JP McManus becomes the first owner to have four winners, and Mullins gave McManus plenty of credit.

“It was a good call from JP, I’d have gone down the Gold Cup route with him but he wanted to run him at Aintree,” Mullins said. “This horse is just a superstar. Nothing fazes him and does what he has to do – runs, jumps and wins Nationals. Paul executed it so well. This is the race we all aspire to when we get into racing. Just to have a runner is a tremendous sensation.”

Two well-backed horses went down early after Grangeclare West fell at the first fence, delivering instant drama at Aintree, with Panic Attack down at the second, to the dismay of many fans.

Amirite took the early lead and continued to set the pace through the halfway point of the 30-fence race, with Top Of The Bill joining the front soon after. Jagwar was the next heavily backed horse to fall on the 21st fence, as I Am Maximus safely navigated in the middle of the pack ahead of the final five fences.

Jordans then took the lead ahead of the last fence, with Montys Star and High Class Hero joining the thick of the action. But I Am Maximus pushed late to storm to victory, with Iroko in second.

“He’s tough, isn’t he? He’s an incredible horse. He’s so good, such an engine, gallops to the end of the world for you. Privileged to do it, what a horse,” Townend told ITV Racing. “It’s right up there, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it’s the pinnacle of our sport.”

Mullins appeared emotional after victory. “The most trouble came from its own stable,” he said. “Paul executed it so good. It is [very hard to win off top weight]. But it is changing, maybe we need to look at it. It’s very tough. It’s the one we aspire to win when we go into racing. The one you want to win, just to have a runner in it.”

Amid numerous falls, Stellar Story jockey Robbie Dunne was injured and was taken to hospital but was reported to be conscious and talking. Top Of The Bill was assessed on the course and was later seen walking back to the stables. Mr Vango was also being assessed for injuries.

more to follow…

Grand National 2026 result

1. I Am Maximus – 9/2F

2. Iroko – 18/1

3. Jordans – 28/1

4. Johnnywho – 12/1

5. High Class Hero – 66/1

6. Favori De Champdou – 40/1

7. Final Orders – 22/1

8. Champ Kiely – 25/1

9. Three Card Brag – 50/1

10. Monty’s Star – 14/1

11. Answer To Kayf – 100/1

12. Gorgeous Tom – 20/1

13. Imperial Saint – 50/1

14. Haiti Couleurs – 28/1

15. Twig – 40/1

16. Firefox – 40/1

Fell

Panic Attack – 7/1

Gerri Colombe – 33/1

Marble Sands – 66/1

Panic Attack – 7/1

Gerri Colombe – 33/1

Marble Sands – 66/1

Top Of The Bill – 50/1

Stellar Story – 33/1

Mr Vango – 66/1

Pulled up

Quai De Bourbon – 33/1

The Real Whacker – 50/1

Amirite – 100/1

Lecky Watson – 50/1

Spanish Harlem – 50/1

Unseated rider

Banbridge – 33/1

Beauport – 80/1

Grangeclare West – 9/1

Perceval Legallois – 33/1

Captain Cody – 22/1

Jagwar – 17/2

Oscars Brother – 14/1