I Am Maximus, winner of the Randox Grand Nationwide in 2024 and second final season, heads the weights for this yr’s Aintree spectacular.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old has been allotted 11st 12lb for the world’s best steeplechase on April 11, having discovered solely stablemate Nick Rockett too robust in his bid to affix the elite record of a number of winners.
This season his marketing campaign has been extra simple and his runner-up effort within the Savills Chase at Christmas was arguably a profession finest. The identical can’t be stated of Nick Rockett (11st 11lb) who has had a few setbacks stopping him from working thus far.
Different Mullins runners in direction of the top of the weights embrace final yr’s third Grangeclare West (11st 10lb), Impaire Et Passe (11st 5lb), Spanish Harlem (11st 3lb) and Lecky Watson (11st 2lb).
Final season’s King George winner Banbridge (11st 11lb), Gerri Colombe (11st 10lb), Gray Dawning (11st 10lb) and Haiti Couleurs (11st 10lb) are additionally in direction of the highest of the record.
The present favorite is the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained Iroko. Fourth as a seven-year-old 12 months in the past when favorite, he has been allotted 11st 1lb.
“We’d like a bit less, but we’ll take that, definitely!” stated Guerriero.
Iroko is the present favorite for the 2026 Grand Nationwide
“It’s just frustrating that we’ve just snuck up a couple (of pounds) since the Firefox run (Iroko beat Firefox at Ascot in December). I feel like they’ve stolen those two off us, but we can’t do much about that.
“He looks like he is improved extra at house than he is gone up, to me, so he is received a stunning weight and is assured a run. I simply pray that it is softer floor. He is in nice kind. This season, since he is had his wind op, he appears rather a lot higher and straighter and happier.
“I am undecided whether or not we’ll Kelso or Cheltenham but, however another run and we’ll be there. We opted in opposition to going to Kempton (for the Ladbrokes Trophy this weekend). Simply talking to JP (McManus, proprietor) there, he’d moderately not.
“I think the most likely option is that we’ll go to Kelso again. It seemed to work last year, although from the Ultima to the Grand National is four and a half weeks which is enough time as well. I would really fancy him in that, but I think we’ve got to go the easiest route really, which is probably going to be Kelso.”
The yard may have one other professional contender in Jagwar (10st 10lb) if he can end within the first 4 in a race in extra of two miles and 7 and a half furlongs.
Guerriero stated: “Jagwar’s solely a perhaps. He would possibly find yourself within the Ultima at Cheltenham and which may resolve for us what occurs. It was a little bit of a back-up entry for him, Aintree.
“He’s run two brilliant races (at Cheltenham). I’m not convinced he’s quite been 100 per cent yet this season – he seems to be coming good now, but he was improving so quick last year that his improvement’s just slowed down a bit.”
British Horseracing Authority handicapper Martin Greenwood believes the category within the race now involves the fore.
“Last year, the first three horses home were all rated 160-plus, and the Randox Grand National is the highest-class handicap of the season,” stated Greenwood, who seems stuffed with admiration for I Am Maximus.
“The 2024 winner I Am Maximus is only 1lb higher than last year at 168 and if successful for a second time on April 11 that would almost certainly be the highest mark a horse has won off in the modern era. Neptune Collonges was rated 168 after he won the Grand National in 2012 and Suny Bay was second off of 170 in 1998.
“For I Am Maximus to be second off 167 final yr was one of many nice fashionable performances within the Grand Nationwide and up there with Tiger Roll’s second win in 2019.”
