They made a lot of changes to the Aintree Grand National this year, but the result had a very familiar look to it.
Yet another big win for owner JP McManus, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend, who, after running riot at the Cheltenham Festival, put the icing on the cake with a sensational victory for I Am Maximus.
There was the usual drama, alright, with last year’s winner Corach Rambler out of the contest at the very first fence, but there were very few thrills and spills after that, which actually led to one of the most exciting climaxes to the famous old race that anyone could remember.
Of the 32 that set out, 17 were still in with a real shout turning for home, less than six lengths between them, and nobody could be at all confident which way it would go.
Minella Indo broke free of the pack and for all the world looked like giving Rachael Blackmore her second National triumph.
But then in an exhilarating twist, the stalking 7-1 joint favourite I Am Maximus suddenly turned on the turbo, quickly left the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner for dead and fairly sprinted up the run-in to win by seven-and-a-half lengths.
Delta Work snatched second and Galvin fourth to complete a 1-2-3-4 clean sweep for Ireland, just in front of Kitty’s Light, who did Wales trainer Christian Williams and his six-year-old daughter Betsy proud as she continues her battle with leukaemia.
David Maxwell, the 48-year-old amateur, had a great first spin in the National on Ain’t That A Shame, a horse he bought specifically for the purpose, and there are also honourable mentions for Galia Des Liteaux and Latenightpass, both in the firing line throughout until running out of puff.
But in the end, there was only one horse in it and a quite remarkable one at that.
I Am Maximus was still a novice when he won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse this time last year, despite running lazily and jumping skew-whiff at several fences.
Nobody was doubting his class, but would this quirky customer’s jumping and temperament stand up over the National fences? That was the big question and Townend himself wasn’t sure how it would all turn out when his mount went into careful mode on the second circuit.
Grand National – full result
1st. I Am Maximus (7-1 joint-favourite) – Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
2nd. Delta Work (28/-1) – Jack Kennedy / Gordon Elliott
3rd. Minella Indo (28-1) – Rachael Blackmore / Henry De Bromhead
4th. Galvin (40-1) – Sam Ewing / Gordon Elliott
5th. Kitty’s Light (12-1) – Jack Tudor / Christian Williams
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- 6th. Ain’t That A Shame
- 7th. Meetingofthewaters
- 8th. Galia Des Liteaux
- 9th. Roi Mage
- 10th. Limerick Lace
- 11th. Coko Beach
- 12th. Latenightpass
- 13th. The Goffer
- 14th. Vanillier
- 15th. Eklat De Rire
- 16th. Capodanno
- 17th. Panda Boy
- 18th. Nassalam
- 19th. Noble Yeats
- 20th. Eldorado Allen
- 21st. Adamantly Chosen
Pulled Up
- Mac Tottie
- Stattler
- Janidil
- Foxy Jacks
- Farouk d’Alene
- Chemical Energy
- Minella Crooner
Unseated
- Corach Rambler
- Mahler Mission
- Mr Incredible
- Glengouly
“But I tried to conserve as much energy as I could,” said the jockey, such a cool cat for the big occasion these days. “And though we didn’t have the clearest run, I had the feeling that once he saw clear air he’d start to motor. He’s unbelievable.”
McManus was winning the National for a third time, Mullins for a second. But this was the first taste for Townend and he was quite overcome.
“The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup [he has won that four times) and all Grade Ones are hard to win. But Grand Nationals are just a bit different.”