I Am Maximus wins Grand National for the second time and secures £500K prize money

Ed Griffiths
Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:17:36 +0000

I Am Maximus has won the Grand National for the second time and secured the 500K prize money.

He is the first horse to regain the crown since Red Rum in 1976.

The 10-year-old horse was a favourite before the race.

He narrowly lost out to Nick Rockett in 2025, who was withdrawn from this year's race due to a cough.

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Irish jockey Paul Townend achieved a historic double following his record-breaking fifth Cheltenham Gold Cup victory in March.

A field of 34 runners competed for the 2026 Randox Grand National title and the prize money.

The race is the most famous steeplechase horse race in the world, held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool.

It serves as the centrepiece of a three-day festival.

Willie Mullins, one of the top trainers in the sport, has trained the last three winners of the National.

Mullins, who also trained seven other horses competing on the day, appeared emotional after achieving his fourth Grand National win as a trainer.

He told ITV Racing: "It was a good call from JP [McManus].

"I'd have gone down the Gold Cup route with him but he wanted to run him at Aintree.

Mullins added: "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."

Mullins also became the first trainer since Vincent O'Brien, in the 1950s, to win three successive Grand Nationals.

Iroko came in second position, Jordan finished third, and Johnnywho achieved fourth.

Jokey Robbie Dunne has been taken to the hospital, but is understood to be conscious and talking.

Winning jockey Paul Townend described his horse as "tough".

He told ITV Racing: "I think the cheekpieces helped in the middle of the race.

"When they jumped off, I got into a good rhythm but I wasn't going to be the one chasing the ones in front. He's a really, really good horse and although Grangeclare West and Nick Rockett looked good in training, this lad wasn't telling me not to ride him.

"He is so good and has such an engine. He will gallop to the end of the world for you. I am really privileged. What a horse.

"Grand Nationals and Gold Cups are the pinnacle of the sport and I have them both."