James Maxwell
Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-04-12
The Morning After — and a Question That Won't Go Away
Twenty-four hours after I Am Maximus crossed the Aintree line for the second time, the racing world has moved quickly from celebration to speculation. The question on everyone's lips is simple: will he come back in 2027?
If he does, and if he wins, he will become only the second horse in the history of the Grand National to win it three times. The only other horse to achieve that feat is Red Rum, who won in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Red Rum is the most celebrated racehorse in British sporting history. The idea that I Am Maximus might join him on that pedestal is not far-fetched.
Willie Mullins was clear on Saturday evening: "Hopefully he'll be here next year. JP is very keen on the National for I Am Maximus. He says he loves the place and jumps the fences so well. Hopefully we'll all be here next year."
JP McManus, who owns I Am Maximus and is now the leading owner in Grand National history with four winners, has made no secret of his affection for the race. If horse and trainer are willing, the owner almost certainly is too.
Ante-post markets have already moved. I Am Maximus has been installed at 12/1 for the 2027 Grand National by several firms — a price that reflects both the scale of the task (three wins has only ever been done once) and the quality of the horse trying to do it.
The Red Rum Dream: Can He Win Three?
To understand what I Am Maximus is now chasing, you have to go back to 1977.
Red Rum had already won the Grand National twice — in 1973 and 1974. He had been second in 1975 and 1976. Then, at the age of 12, he won it again. Three Grand Nationals. A record that has stood for nearly 50 years and that most in racing assumed would stand forever.
I Am Maximus now has two Grand Nationals. He won in 2024, finished second in 2025 (beaten by stablemate Nick Rockett), and won again in 2026. He is 10 years old. In 2027, he would be 11 — the same age Red Rum was for his second win.
The numbers do not rule it out. The precedent, however unlikely, exists.
| Horse | First win | Second win | Third win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Rum | 1973 | 1974 | 1977 |
| I Am Maximus | 2024 | 2026 | 2027? |
What makes the comparison intriguing is the structural similarity. Both horses showed the ability to carry big weights over the Grand National fences. Both had the jumping ability to handle Aintree's unique demands. And both had the backing of connections who were willing to keep coming back.
Willie Mullins's yard has shown no signs of retiring I Am Maximus. The horse's post-race veterinary checks were described as excellent. He jumped brilliantly throughout Saturday's race and, unlike some Grand National winners who take visible toll from the race, showed no signs of distress in the aftermath.
The question is not whether the dream is possible. It is whether everything stays aligned — health, weight, conditions and a clear run in the race — to give him the chance.
What Happens Between Now and 2027
Grand National winners typically follow a predictable path in the weeks after Aintree. The immediate priority is rest and recovery — even a horse who has come through the race well needs time to decompress after the physical demands of a four-mile-plus chase.
Punchestown (April 28 – May 2)
The Punchestown Festival is the obvious first question. It follows Aintree by just over two weeks and is Willie Mullins's home festival. However, Mullins has typically given Grand National winners a break rather than running them immediately at Punchestown. Expect I Am Maximus to bypass the festival.
Summer at grass
The standard programme for a top National Hunt horse involves returning to grass in May, enjoying a summer break, and beginning light work again in August or September. For a 10-year-old who has just run the race of his life, this rest period will be non-negotiable.
Autumn targets
From October, it becomes clearer what direction a horse is heading. National Hunt horses of this calibre often return at a smaller preparatory race — a conditions chase or a listed event — to blow away the cobwebs before a bigger target. Mullins may give him one run in the autumn or wait until the new year.
Grand National prep in 2027
If the plan is Aintree 2027, expect one or two runs between October 2026 and March 2027. Mullins managed I Am Maximus's 2025–26 campaign carefully, and there is no reason to think the approach will change. The Grand National is the destination; everything else is preparation.
The key variable is health. At 10, I Am Maximus is in the prime years of a chaser's career. But age is a factor and any setback over the winter could change plans quickly.
2027 Odds and the Weight Question
I Am Maximus was immediately installed at 12/1 for the 2027 Grand National by several bookmakers in the hours after his Aintree win — a market that reflects both his clear ability and the challenges he would face in returning.
Why 12/1 rather than shorter?
Several factors push the price out:
- Top weight: He would almost certainly be allocated the maximum weight in 2027. The handicapper has limited room to go higher than 11st 12lb (which he carried in 2026), but he is unlikely to get a lenient mark.
- Three wins is historically unprecedented (almost): Red Rum did it. No other horse has done so in the modern era. The probability discount for history being made is significant.
- Field quality: A full field of fresh Grand National horses will include younger, unexposed runners who may prove too quick.
- Age: An 11-year-old carrying top weight over 4 miles 2.5 furlongs is asking a lot — even of a horse this good.
Why he might be value at 12/1
Against those concerns: I Am Maximus has won the Grand National twice. He has now run the course three times (1st, 2nd, 1st). He jumps it better than almost any horse in training. He is trained by the best National Hunt trainer in the world, owned by one of the sport's most ambitious men, and ridden by one of the finest jockeys in a generation.
Ante-post betting on the 2027 Grand National opens with roughly a year to run. Prices will drift as the market matures and new horses emerge. 12/1 in April 2026 may prove either generous or tight depending on what the winter brings.
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Ante-post price (April 2026) | 12/1 |
| Age in April 2027 | 11 |
| Expected weight | 11st 12lb (max) |
| Times run at Aintree GN | 3 (1st, 2nd, 1st) |
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
| Jockey | Paul Townend (likely) |
I Am Maximus — Frequently Asked Questions
Will I Am Maximus run in the 2027 Grand National?
There are strong indications from connections that he will. Willie Mullins said on Saturday: "Hopefully he'll be here next year. JP is very keen on the National for I Am Maximus." No firm plans have been confirmed, but retirement has not been mentioned.
What odds can I get on I Am Maximus for 2027?
I Am Maximus was installed at around 12/1 for the 2027 Grand National within hours of his win. Prices vary by bookmaker. Ante-post markets carry additional risk (horse could be withdrawn at any time), but some firms offer insurance if the horse does not run.
How old will I Am Maximus be in the 2027 Grand National?
He will be 11 years old. Grand National horses can race at any age, though horses older than 13 are rare in recent years. Red Rum won his third National at the age of 12.
Has any horse won the Grand National three times?
Only Red Rum, who won in 1973, 1974 and 1977. No other horse in the modern era has won three Grand Nationals.
What weight would I Am Maximus carry in 2027?
He carried 11st 12lb in 2026 as top weight. The handicapper would likely allocate him the same or similar weight in 2027, making his task extremely difficult.
Will Paul Townend ride him again?
Paul Townend is Willie Mullins's retained jockey and has ridden I Am Maximus in all three of his Grand National starts. There is no reason to expect that to change.
Could I Am Maximus run at Punchestown first?
It is possible but unlikely. Mullins typically gives Grand National winners a summer break rather than running them at Punchestown (April 28 – May 2). A return in the autumn of 2026 is more probable.
Is I Am Maximus retiring?
There has been no indication of retirement from connections. Willie Mullins and JP McManus have both indicated an interest in returning to Aintree in 2027. A decision will be made closer to the time, taking into account the horse's health and wellbeing.
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