James Maxwell
Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-04-11
The last time a horse regained the Grand National title, it was 1974. Red Rum, trained by Ginger McCain, had won the 1973 National in a finish for the ages — coming from 30 lengths behind on the run-in to deny Crisp. He won again in 1974, was beaten in 1975 and 1976, and then won a third time in 1977, becoming the most celebrated racehorse in the history of the sport.
No horse had regained the Grand National title in those 52 years — until 11 April 2026, when I Am Maximus won the Randox Grand National at Aintree for the second time. He had won in 2024, finished second in 2025 (beaten by stablemate Nick Rockett), and returned in 2026 to claim it again.
His record over the past three Nationals: 1st (2024), 2nd (2025), 1st (2026).
In doing so, I Am Maximus didn't just win a race. He stepped into a conversation that only one horse in the modern era has ever been part of. And he did it carrying 11st 12lb — top weight — in what Willie Mullins called one of the most challenging assignments in jump racing.
For the full race result and finishing order, see our Grand National 2026 result page.
I Am Maximus and Red Rum: The Comparison
Has any horse won the Grand National twice?
Yes — but very few. The Grand National's brutal demands (4 miles 2½ furlongs, 30 fences, fields of up to 40 runners) make multiple wins extraordinarily rare. Before I Am Maximus in 2026, the last horse to win the race twice in the modern era was Red Rum, who won in 1973, 1974 and 1977.
Going back further, Manifesto won in 1897 and 1899. The Lamb won in 1868 and 1871. Peter Simple won in 1849 and 1853.
I Am Maximus is the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to regain the Grand National title.
How does I Am Maximus compare to Red Rum?
| I Am Maximus | Red Rum | |
|---|---|---|
| First win | 2024 (9/2) | 1973 |
| Second win | 2026 (9/2) | 1974 |
| Third win | — | 1977 |
| Weight carried (second win) | 11st 12lb | 12st |
| Trainer | Willie Mullins | Ginger McCain |
| Jockey | Paul Townend | Brian Fletcher |
| Owner | JP McManus | Noel Le Mare |
Red Rum's story is embedded in British sporting culture in a way no other racehorse's is. He raced into his teens, was beloved at Aintree and led the pre-race parade at the National every year until his death in 1995. He is buried beside the winning post.
I Am Maximus's story is still being written. He is 10 years old. Whether connections attempt a third National in 2027 — and whether he could join Red Rum in winning three — is a question that will dominate ante-post markets throughout next season.
The 2025 Chapter: Second to Nick Rockett
What makes I Am Maximus's record even more remarkable is the 2025 in between. He didn't fade from contention — he was beaten by a stablemate, Nick Rockett, in a Willie Mullins 1-2-3 that itself made history. That finish confirmed the Mullins yard's stranglehold on the race while also preventing I Am Maximus from going back-to-back.
The 2026 win corrects that. He is now, unambiguously, a two-time Grand National winner — the greatest staying chaser of his era over the National fences.
Willie Mullins and the Grand National: Three in a Row
Who has trained the most Grand National winners?
Willie Mullins has now trained four Grand National winners: Hedgehunter (2005), I Am Maximus (2024), Nick Rockett (2025) and I Am Maximus (2026). With three consecutive victories from 2024 to 2026 — each time with a horse from Closutton, though not the same horse — he is the first trainer to win three successive Grand Nationals since Vincent O'Brien, who trained Early Mist (1953), Royal Tan (1954) and Quare Times (1955). I Am Maximus himself did not win all three: he won in 2024, finished second in 2025 behind stablemate Nick Rockett, and won again in 2026.
The Mullins Grand National record
| Year | Winner | SP | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Hedgehunter | 16/1 | Ruby Walsh |
| 2024 | I Am Maximus | 9/2 | Paul Townend |
| 2025 | Nick Rockett | — | Patrick Mullins |
| 2026 | I Am Maximus | 9/2 | Paul Townend |
The 2025 National was particularly extraordinary — Mullins saddled the first three home. In 2026, despite the withdrawal of Nick Rockett and the early exit of Grangeclare West, the winner and fifth-placed High Class Hero were both from Closutton.
JP McManus: The Owner's Role
JP McManus has been involved in some of the most significant moments in jump racing over the past two decades. His green and gold silks carried I Am Maximus to victory in both 2024 and 2026, making him one of the few owners to win the Grand National multiple times with the same horse.
McManus also owned several other runners in the 2026 field. The Grand National has become, to a significant degree, a race between his horses and the rest.
What does this mean for 2027?
The question every ante-post punter will ask: can I Am Maximus go back to Aintree as an 11-year-old and win a third National to match Red Rum? He would carry a heavier weight, face a fresher field of younger rivals, and need to maintain form through another winter. But Mullins and McManus have shown they do not shy away from ambitious targets. Watch the 2027 National markets closely.
Winning Under Top Weight: Why It Matters
Has a top-weight ever won the Grand National?
Yes — but rarely. Carrying top weight in the Grand National is one of the most punishing assignments in sport. Over 4 miles 2½ furlongs and 30 fences, every extra pound tells. The last horse to win under top weight before I Am Maximus was Red Rum in 1974, who carried 12st to victory.
I Am Maximus carried 11st 12lb in 2026 — the maximum allocated to the top-rated horse in the field. That he won under that weight, against a competitive field of 34, is a testament to his exceptional engine and jumping ability.
The handicapper's challenge
The Grand National handicapper assigns weights specifically to prevent the best horses from winning — that is the point of a handicap. A horse rated as highly as I Am Maximus is expected to carry enough weight to level the playing field. The fact that he overcame that disadvantage twice places him in genuinely rarefied company.
Cheekpieces and tactics
Paul Townend and Willie Mullins fitted I Am Maximus with cheekpieces for the 2026 National — a notable change from his 2024 winning run. The headgear was designed to sharpen his focus through the middle sections of the race, where he had shown some signs of idling. Townend's assessment after the race was that the tactics worked: the horse travelled better in the second half of the race than the first, which is precisely what connections would have planned.
Winning the Grand National once requires class. Winning it twice under top weight requires something more — a combination of ability, constitution and the management of a horse at the peak of his powers.
I Am Maximus and the Grand National Record — FAQ
Is I Am Maximus the only horse to win the Grand National twice?
No — but he is the first horse since Red Rum to regain the title. Red Rum won in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Going back further, Manifesto won in 1897 and 1899. I Am Maximus is the first dual winner in 52 years.
When did Red Rum last win the Grand National?
Red Rum won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. His final victory, at age 12, is widely regarded as one of the greatest moments in British sporting history.
Has I Am Maximus won the Grand National more than once?
Yes. I Am Maximus won the Grand National in 2024, finished second in 2025, and won again in 2026. He has run three times at Aintree and finished first, second, first.
Who is the trainer of I Am Maximus?
I Am Maximus is trained by Willie Mullins at his Closutton yard in County Carlow, Ireland. Mullins has won four Grand Nationals in total: Hedgehunter (2005), I Am Maximus (2024), Nick Rockett (2025) and I Am Maximus (2026).
Who has trained the most Grand National winners?
Fred Rimell trained four Grand National winners (1956, 1961, 1970, 1976). Willie Mullins has now also trained four Grand National winners. The record is held by Fred Winter, who trained four winners between 1962 and 1976, and Neville Crump, who trained three winners but over a longer period. Mullins's achievement of three consecutive wins (2024-2026) is unmatched in the modern era.
Could I Am Maximus win a third Grand National?
It is possible. Red Rum won three Nationals (1973, 1974, 1977). I Am Maximus would be 11 years old in 2027 and would likely carry top weight again. Willie Mullins and JP McManus have indicated they would be open to attempting a third. Watch the ante-post markets in autumn 2026.
What weight did Red Rum carry when he won the Grand National?
Red Rum carried 12st when winning in 1974, making it one of the heaviest winning burdens in the modern era. I Am Maximus carried 11st 12lb in 2026 — just 2lb less.
Has a mare ever won the Grand National?
The last mare to win the Grand National was Nickel Coin in 1951. Panic Attack, the 2026 runner-up favourite trained by Dan Skelton, was attempting to become the first mare to win in 75 years — but she unseated her rider on the first circuit.
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