Willie Mullins has admitted it’s going to be “tough’ for I Am Maximus to win the Randox Grand National for the second year running. In April last year the champion trainer of Britain and Ireland claimed his second victory in the world famous £1 million race when I Am Maximus romped to a seven and a half length success under Paul Townend. In 2024 he carried 11st 6lb to victory but this year he has been allotted top weight of 11st 12lb, 6lb more, following the publication of the handicap on Tuesday.
Mullins, who previously won the race with Hedgehunter in 2005, has saddled 60 horses in the big race since his first runner Micko’s Dream fell at the first fence in 2000. He has engaged ten horses this year but not all are expected to line up on April 5. Mullins has run the rule over his contenders after discovering their weights with latest William Hill odds:. I AM MAXIMUS (12-1)“It was huge to win it last year for the second time. I felt very spoiled winning a second Grand National. It’s top weight and it’s tough but we had an idea that it would be tough. He’ll probably run in the Bobbyjo and we’ll see how he is.
“He likes the track (Aintree). Sometimes when horses go back a second time they don’t like it and we’ve got all that to take into account. Horses go round it once and the second time it can be different, but he had a good experience last year and I’m hoping that it won’t be a problem.”. GRANGECLARE WEST (33-1)“I was very pleased with his run (when second in the Irish Gold Cup). He paid the penalty by being raised in the weights so it’s going to be tougher, but he might take his chance. I’m not sure he’ll run before but I’ll think about that.”.
NICK ROCKETT (16-1)“I thought he was very good winning the Thyestes and that’s always a very good pointer towards the National, so hopefully he’ll take up the engagement.”. APPRECIATE IT (66-1)“He’s shown a nice change of form on nice ground in Thurles to win (in January). Aintree ground is usually lovely so he has his chance and plenty of 11-year-olds have won in the recent past.”. CAPODANNO (66-1)“Capodanno was running a good race last year. The handicapper’s given him a chance and he jumps those fences no problem so I’m happy enough.”.
MINELLA COCOONER (20-1)“He jumps well. He won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year. It’s going to be a tough assignment to win another big handicap within the calendar year but he’ll take his chance.”. MEETINGOFTHEWATERS (33-1)“I think Meetingofthewaters has a lovely weight. He ran very well last year and I think my eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. He’s one I like.”. HORANTZAU D’AIRY (66-1)“He has a lovely weight and loves jumping. If he gets in we’d like to take our chance on nicer ground with him.”.
MACDERMOTT (50-1)“We’d need a lot of luck to get in but after the way he ran in the Scottish Grand National last year I’d love to see him get into the race.”. SPANISH HARLEM (66-1)“He would need a lot of luck to get in. We’d probably look to run him in the Topham, I’d say.”. 1 I Am Maximus (FR) 9 11 12 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins 1672 Royale Pagaille (FR) 11 11 9 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams 1643 Envoi Allen (FR) 11 11 8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead 1634 Grangeclare West (IRE) 9 11 8 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins 1635 L'homme Presse (FR) 10 11 8 Dfa Racing (Pink, Edwards & Sharman) Venetia Williams 1636 Nick Rockett (IRE) 8 11 8 Stewart & Sadie Andrew W. P. Mullins 1637 Hewick (IRE) 10 11 7 Mr T. J. McDonald Tara Lee Cogan 1628 Gentlemansgame (GB) 9 11 5 Robcour M. F. Morris 1609 Inothewayurthinkin (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell 16010 Monty's Star (IRE) 8 11 5 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead 160 11 The Real Whacker (IRE) 9 11 4 Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price Patrick Neville 15912 Minella Indo (IRE) 12 11 3 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead 15813 Appreciate It (IRE) 11 11 2 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins 15714 Capodanno (FR) 9 11 2 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins 15715 Conflated (IRE) 11 11 2 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott 15716 Delta Work (FR) 12 11 2 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott 15717 Minella Cocooner (IRE) 9 11 2 Mr David Bobbett W. P. Mullins 15718 Stumptown (IRE) 8 11 2 Furze Bush Syndicate Gavin Cromwell 15719 Beauport (IRE) 9 11 1 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies 15620 Hitman (FR) 9 11 1 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls 156 21 Bravemansgame (FR) 10 11 0 Bryan Drew Paul Nicholls 15522 Chantry House (IRE) 11 10 13 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson 15423 Galvin (IRE) 11 10 13 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott 15424 Perceval Legallois (FR) 8 10 12 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell 15325 Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 10 10 12 McNeill Family Paul Nicholls 15326 Fakir d'Oudairies (FR) 10 10 11 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien 15227 Iroko (FR) 7 10 11 Mr John P. McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero 15228 Kandoo Kid (FR) 9 10 11 Mr Michael Geoghegan Paul Nicholls 15229 Trelawne (GB) 9 10 11 The Real Partnership Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls 15230 Idas Boy (IRE) 11 10 10 Dozen Dreamers Richard Phillips 151 31 Intense Raffles (FR) 7 10 10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede T. Gibney 15132 Limerick Lace (IRE) 8 10 10 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell 15133 Senior Chief (GB) 8 10 10 Lucky In Life Syndicate Henry de Bromhead 15134 Broadway Boy (IRE) 7 10 9 Mr D. M. Proos Nigel Twiston-Davies 15035 Coko Beach (FR) 10 10 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott 15036 Farouk d'Alene (FR) 10 10 9 Mr Justin Carthy Gary Brown 15037 Fil Dor (FR) 7 10 9 Robcour Gordon Elliott 15038 French Dynamite (FR) 10 10 9 Robcour M. F. Morris 15039 Mr Incredible (IRE) 9 10 9 Mr J. Manclark Sandy Thomson 15040 Stay Away Fay (IRE) 8 10 9 Bell, Lyons, Hill Paul Nicholls 150 41 Zanahiyr (IRE) 8 10 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott 15042 Pinkerton (IRE) 9 10 8 Mr P. L. Polly Noel Meade 14943 Meetingofthewaters (IRE) 8 10 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins 14844 Minella Drama (IRE) 10 10 7 Green Day Racing Donald McCain 14845 Velvet Elvis (IRE) 9 10 7 Mr D. Kierans Gavin Cromwell 14846 Celebre d'Allen (FR) 13 10 6 Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs & Johnson White 14747 Fontaine Collonges (FR) 10 10 6 Mr P. Davies Venetia Williams 14748 Horantzau d'Airy (FR) 8 10 6 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins 14749 Hyland (FR) 8 10 6 The Ten From Seven Nicky Henderson 14750 Monbeg Genius (IRE) 9 10 6 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill 147 51 Vanillier (FR) 10 10 6 Mrs H. M. Keaveney Gavin Cromwell 14752 Minella Crooner (IRE) 9 10 5 KTDA Racing/Nick Courtney/Cillian Moran Gordon Elliott 14653 Quick Wave (FR) 12 10 5 Ms Sharon Kinsella Venetia Williams 14654 Three Card Brag (IRE) 8 10 5 Patrick & Scott Bryceland, McNeill Family Gordon Elliott 14655 Twig (GB) 10 10 5 Mrs G. Morgan Ben Pauling 14656 Duffle Coat (IRE) 8 10 4 Mr Ray Stokes Gordon Elliott 14557 Roi Mage (FR) 13 10 4 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin 14558 Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 11 10 4 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling 14559 Fantastic Lady (FR) 10 10 3 Mr E. R. Hanbury Nicky Henderson 14460 Favori de Champdou (FR) 10 10 3 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott 14461 Yeah Man (IRE) 8 10 3 John J. Brennan/Martin Hannan Gavin Cromwell 14462 Chemical Energy (IRE) 9 10 2 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott 14363 Macdermott (FR) 7 10 2 Gallagher Bloodstock Limited W. P. Mullins 14364 Mister Coffey (FR) 10 10 2 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson 14365 Mr Vango (IRE) 9 10 2 Cracker and Smodge Partnership Sara Bradstock 14366 Bronn (IRE) 8 10 1 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede T. Gibney 14267 Desertmore House (IRE) 10 10 1 O. B. P. Carroll/Anthony Vaughan Martin Brassil 14268 Malina Girl (IRE) 8 10 1 Mrs J. M. Russell Gavin Cromwell 14269 Richmond Lake (IRE) 9 10 1 Hemmings Racing Donald McCain 14270 La Renommee (FR) 7 10 0 Upton House Stud Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole 141 71 King Turgeon (FR) 7 9 13 Somerset Racing David Pipe 14072 Stuzzikini (IRE) 7 9 13 VCS Versatile Coating Specialist/F Foran Gordon Elliott 14073 Cruz Control (FR) 8 9 12 Mr F Green and Mr J Chinn Tom Lacey 13974 Surrey Quest (IRE) 8 9 12 Surrey Racing (SQ) Toby Lawes 13975 Apple Away (IRE) 8 9 11 Old Gold Racing 14 Lucinda Russell 13876 Busselton (FR) 8 9 11 Friendship Partnership Joseph Patrick O'Brien 13877 Gevrey (FR) 9 9 11 Denis Gallagher Racing Gordon Elliott 13878 Spanish Harlem (FR) 7 9 11 Dr S. P. Fitzgerald W. P. Mullins 13879 The Goffer (IRE) 8 9 10 Mr Allan Snow Gordon Elliott 13780 Famous Bridge (IRE) 9 9 9 Hemmings Racing Nicky Richards 136 81 Copperhead (GB) 11 9 7 Mrs G. C. Pritchard Joe Tizzard 13482 Escaria Ten (FR) 11 9 7 J B Property Investments (Midlands) Ltd Martin Keighley 13483 Where It All Began (IRE) 9 9 7 McNeill Family/Patrick & Scott Bryceland Gordon Elliott 13484 Git Maker (FR) 9 9 6 Sheep As A Lamb Syndicate Jamie Snowden 13385 Gericault Roque (FR) 9 9 4 Prof. Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew David Pipe 13186 Pats Fancy (IRE) 10 9 3 Hydes, McDermott, Spencer, Frobisher & Lee Rebecca Curtis 13087 Placenet (FR) 8 9 3 Prof C Tisdall & G Thompson D. Cottin 130.
