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by Mick the Ram
In one of the most exciting Grand National’s in many years, it was the joint favourite, I Am Maximus who stormed home to take the race.
His victory handed trainer Willie Mullins his second success nearly 20 years after his first.
For leading jockey Paul Townend it was his first time in the winners enclosure for the premier steeplechase. He also became only the seventh jockey to win the Gold Cup and National in the same year.
He jumped the last fence in 5th spot, but had plenty left in the tank to enable him to sprint past the other contenders to secure the win by an impressive seven and a half lengths.
Of the 32 starters, 21 finished the race, with no actual fallers. Of those that failed to finish 7 pulled up and four unseated their rider, including last year’s winner, Corach Rambler, who dispensed with his jockey at the very first fence.
32 start the marathon trip
After all the controversy of the 2023 race, it was a relief to see this year’s version go off on time and without incident. Two late withdrawals meant that 32 set off on the marathon trip.
It was a huge shock to see the returning champion, Corach Rambler fail to get beyond the first fence, shipping jockey Derek Fox in what was the only casualty at the opening obstacle, which had been brought 60 yards closer to the start, to try and stop the horses arriving there too fast.
Hugging the rail
The eventual winner I Am Maximus settled midfield, but opted to go the shortest route by hugging the near rail all the way around. Minella Indo, a former Gold Cup winner, was prominent from the off and was always going well.
Two leading fancies came unstuck at The Chair – the courses biggest fence, when Mr Incredible jumped into Mahler Mission, causing both jockeys to become unseated.
The mare Limerick Lace had been the days big gamble, so much so that she had joined I Am Maximus as joint favourite, but she never really looked comfortable and would eventually come home 10th.
Mac Tottie was another who always seemed to be struggling; indeed he was the only horse who had any post race issues, being treated for dehydration and taken away for further assistance in the horse ambulance.
Anybody’s race
Approaching the closing stages and as many as 15 horses would have been fancying their chances and for a short time after the last jump, it did look as if Rachael Blackmore was about to win her second Grand National, having succeeded in 2021 on stablemate Minella Times. It was here though that both Paul Townend and I Am Maximus showed their class, switching their running line and sprinting away from the pack, to finish a comfortable winner.
Delta Work another previous Group One winner took second spot, with Minella Indo claiming a very creditable third and with Galvin coming in fourth, it meant it was an Irish 1-2-3-4.
Creditable performances
Kitty’s Light (5th), Ain’t That A Shame (6th ), Meetingofthewaters (7th), and Galia des Liteaux (8th) all ran tremendous races and can consider themselves unlucky to not make the top four.
Last year’s second horse, Vanillier and strongly fancied Panda Boy didn’t travel well and will be disappointed with their 14th and 17th places respectively. 2022 winner Noble Yeats found it tough carrying top weight, but once again got round safely.
Trainer full of praise for jockey
Dominant Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who won the race in 2005 with Hedgehunter, was full of praise for jockey Paul Townend. He said: “The horse, I think, wasn’t giving him a lot of help a lot of the way around, but we have that confidence that he always has that bit extra in the tank and you could see Paul biding his time and waiting to mount his challenge as they approached the second last. It was a great delivery.”
Third win for owner
Owner JP McManus who won with Don’t Push It, in 2010 and Minella Times in 2021, also was quick to congratulate the performance of the jockey. “Paul is riding so well at the moment and it’s like any sportsperson, when you’ve got that confidence things just happen for you. Paul’s seeing things other jockeys aren’t seeing at the moment; he’s just riding in a different zone.”
He added a nod to his trainer when he said: “Willie planned the campaign with this horse a long time back and thankfully it worked out.”
“Lucky Boy”
Winning jockey, Paul Townend agreed that he had a few issues particularly from the second last fence to the last fence, but felt that may have helped him.
“When I got him out I always had a feeling he was going to start motoring when he got into clear air, which he did. The ones in front of me, I’m sure they weren’t looking for me, but I had them well in my sights.” He added that to win a Grand National it needs so much luck and accepted “I’m a lucky boy.”
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