I Am Maximus heads the maximum field of 34 declared runners as he bids to emulate Red Rum in Saturday’s Randox Grand National.
No horse since Ginger McCain’s Aintree legend has won the world’s most famous steeplechase, lost the title and then regained it. Red Rum won in 1973 and 1974, was second in 1975 and 1976, and won again in 1977.
Willie Mullins’ I Am Maximus — wearing cheekpieces for only the second time, the first being December 2022 — won two years ago with Paul Townend and was beaten by stablemate Nick Rockett in 2025 when attempting to become the first dual winner since Tiger Roll.
Mullins also runs Grangeclare West (third last year), Spanish Harlem (owned by Randox founder Dr Peter Fitzgerald), Lecky Watson, Champ Kiely, High Class Hero, Captain Cody and Quai De Bourbon.
The Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs seeks a unique treble: no horse has won the Welsh and Irish Nationals plus the Aintree race. Ireland’s strong challenge is bolstered by Banbridge, Gerri Colombe, Firefox, Monty’s Star and Oscars Brother.
Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero each have two major chances: last year’s fourth Iroko and stablemate Jagwar. Both, like I Am Maximus, are owned by JP McManus, who also has Cheltenham winner Johnnywho in his UK team.
Ben Pauling’s Twig, tenth last year, revived hopes after a Becher Chase success and will be ridden by the owner’s 21-year-old son, Beau Morgan.
“He ran well in the race last year when he was ridden to come home well, but I don’t think the plan was to be quite so far back,” said Pauling. “He acts on the track, he obviously enjoys it there having won the Becher and if we can get him into a rhythm closer to the pace, as it’s much harder these days to come from off the pace, that would be better.
“If he can travel in the first half of the field on the first circuit and just hold our own on the second circuit, as we know he stays very well, then we’ll see if we can beat last year’s result. Anything inside the top 10 and we’d be thrilled, anything else is a bonus.
“He’s not thrown in or anything like that but he’s got his ground and he likes the fences so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s there with a shout two out, after there we’ll see.
“He’s very much a fairytale National story, he cost next to nothing, he’s ridden by the son of the owner, but we’ll see if we have a fairytale result.”
There were no withdrawals at the 72-hour declaration stage. Jimmy Mangan’s Spillane’s Tower is also declared for Thursday’s Racing Welfare Bowl Chase; if it runs there, Pied Piper (first reserve) would become number 34 and run as a sixth entry for Gordon Elliott. Reserves can make the final field until 1pm on Friday.
Grand National runners
1. I Am Maximus
2. Nick Rockett
3. Banbridge
4. Grangeclare West
5. Gerri Colombe
6. Haiti Couleurs
7. Spillane’s Tower
8. Firefox
9. Monty’s Star
10. Spanish Harlem
11. Lecky Watson
12. Champ Kiely
13. Iroko
14. Favori De Champdou
15. Three Card Brag
16. Oscars Brother
17. Mr Vango
18. High Class Hero
19. Stellar Story
20. Beauport
21. Captain Cody
22. Jagwar
23. Perceval Legallois
24. Gorgeous Tom
25. The Real Whacker
26. Quai De Bourbon
27. Answer To Kayf
28. Jordans
29. Final Orders
30. Marble Sands
31. Panic Attack
32. Top Of The Bill
33. Johnnywho
34. Twig