I Am Maximus, the 2024 winner, heads to Aintree on Saturday as favourite to win the Grand National again. The field contains 34 runners, and the race once more brings together proven stayers, Irish challengers and a number of horses with strong form over fences.
The headline horse is one of two previous winners at the top of the weights. He backed up his success in 2024 by pressing Nick Rockett all the way to the Elbow 12 months ago before eventually weakening. That effort showed he could still cope with the Grand National test, even after two runs beforehand that offered only limited signs of the form that carried him to victory.
I Am Maximus
This year’s preparation suggests there is more to like. He finished second in a Grade One in December and was fifth in the Irish Gold Cup, results that indicate he remains in good heart. On strict handicapping, he may still have a little too much weight to carry against some of his rivals, but his Aintree experience is a major asset.
He has already proved that the unique demands of the National suit him, and that matters as much as any raw rating. Another place on the podium is far from impossible, even if history is not kind to top-weight horses. No horse carrying top weight has won the race since the 1970s, which is the main concern for his supporters.
The challenge of the National
The Grand National remains one of the most searching tests in racing. Horses must handle the fences, the distance and the pressure of a large field, and form from other races does not always transfer neatly to Aintree. That is why previous experience of the course can be so valuable.
I Am Maximus has already shown that he can cope with all of those demands. His 2024 victory was followed by another bold run in last year’s race, where he was involved in the finish for a long way before fading late on. That combination of class, stamina and Aintree know-how keeps him near the top of the betting once again.
Assessing the favourite
His supporters will point to the fact that he comes into the race with better recent signs than he did before his win in 2024. His second in a Grade One and his fifth in the Irish Gold Cup are solid markers, especially for a horse returning to the unique task of the Grand National. Even so, the weight he carries means he must be close to his best.
For punters looking beyond a straight win bet, his profile makes sense as an each-way proposition. He has the right Aintree profile, but the handicap conditions make life difficult for any top-weight contender.
That balance of strengths and concerns sums up the favourite’s chance. He is a horse with proven National ability, but also one facing a historical hurdle that remains hard to ignore.
As the 2026 Grand National approaches, the key question is whether I Am Maximus can overcome the burden of top weight and repeat the performance that made him a winner two years ago. Whatever the answer, he goes to Aintree as the horse all eyes will be on.
Verdict: each-way hope on Aintree form, but no top-weight winner since the 1970s.
More to follow as the full field is assessed horse by horse.
