Townend left downbeat with second National just out of his grasp

Paul Townend was left feeling “sickened to be beat” after I Am Maximus finished a gallant second his bid for back-to-back victories in the Randox Grand National.

The JP McManus-owned gelding was a brilliant winner of the Aintree spectacular last season and while he had failed to figure in two subsequent outings behind his dual Gold Cup-winning stablemate Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown, confidence appeared to be high ahead of his return to Merseyside.

Eventually going off the 7-1 second-favourite, I Am Maximus looked to be struggling at the halfway stage, but he appeared on the scene travelling well on the approach to the second-last, offering hope that he could emulate Tiger Roll by successfully defending his title.

In the end, though, he was unable to reel in his stablemate Nick Rockett, who passed the post with two and a half lengths in hand.

“Maybe he’d enjoy more of an ease in the ground, but there’s no excuses really. He’s run a huge race again, it’s just hard with top-weight,” said Townend.

“He took me through the race better last year probably. I’m sickened to be beat.”

Having previously tasted victory with Don’t Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021) before I Am Maximus’ success of 12 months ago, McManus launched a five-pronged assault in his bid to become the most successful owner in Grand National history.

The well-fancied Perceval Legallois was an early faller, but as well as picking up second with the reigning champion, McManus saw the 13-2 favourite Iroko claim fourth and Meetingofthewaters finish fifth.

He said: “He (I Am Maximus) ran very well, we can’t complain. He had to carry 11st 12lb.

“Iroko ran well too. He’s only a young horse and he might have another go next year.”

Iroko, trained in partnership by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, was finishing as strongly as anything in fourth.

Greenall said: “He ran well, Jonjo (O’Neill jnr) just said if the ground was a little bit softer he’d have been in his comfort zone a little bit more.

“You can’t complain, he warmed to the task and stayed on nicely. With another year on his back he could be a bit stronger and better.

“I personally felt he took to it really well and in another year, if it was a bit softer, it would just play to his strengths a bit more.

“It was amazing to see him finishing like that to be honest. It’s been quite a journey building up to the National and it’s a relief that he’s OK.”

O’Neill jnr is similarly looking forward to the 2026 Grand National, saying: “He ran very well, the ground was just a bit too good for him and he was a bit flat out to start with, but he warmed up into it and another year on his back will do him no harm.

“He finished well and a year stronger next year, we’d be looking forward to having another go.”

Splitting the McManus trio in third place was another Willie Mullins runner in the shape of the Brian Hayes-ridden Grangeclare West, carrying the colours of Cheveley Park Stud.

Cheveley Park’s Richard Thompson said: “That was beautiful, we loved that. He’s a horse who won a Grade One as a novice and finished second in the Irish Gold Cup, he’s lightly-raced and we thought he’d run a big race. He’s a class horse and we hoped he might finish in the first six maybe.

“He travelled beautifully and just made a mistake at the last. Would he have won it? He would have been right in there, but it’s still great to come here with my three sons and finish third in the National – it’s fantastic.

“I would have thought he’ll have another go next year. He loved that out there today, didn’t he?”

Senior Chief was sixth for Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe, with the Mullins-trained Minella Cocooner seventh and Shark Hanlon’s pint-sized stable star Hewick eight, having travelled supremely well for a long way.

Hanlon said: “It was a brilliant run and we couldn’t be more proud of him.

“He’s just a little star, he’s OK and lives to fight another day. We’ll have good times with him for the rest of the year.”