'JP's keen to have a horse who can try to win two and maybe a third' - back-to-back Grand Nationals the target for I Am Maximus

Willie Mullins will build I Am Maximus's season around trying to emulate Tiger Roll by winning successive Grand Nationals, with the long-term dream to triumph three times like Red Rum.

The eight-year-old looks set to run in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown in the Savills Chase in December and the Irish Gold Cup in February as well as in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse before he attempts to defend his Aintree crown after last season's seven-and-a-half-length demolition job.

"Looking at what we did last year, he ran in the Savills Chase and then the Irish Gold Cup and the Bobbyjo," said Mullins at a press visit organised by the Jockey Club. "I'd imagine those three races will be his target this year with a view to going back to Aintree for another go at the National.

"In reality, he's not going to have a lot more weight than he carried last year as he carried over 11st and he's a strong horse who's still maturing. I was delighted with how strong he came back from a summer's grass.

I Am Maximus and Paul Townend win last season's Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick

"After the National last year I thought he was a Gold Cup horse and I still do, but I think connections are much happier to go back to the National. Red Rum won three and Tiger Roll won two, and I think JP [McManus, owner] would be keen to have a horse who can try to win two and maybe try for a third one. If you don't try, you don't succeed so that's the plan."

Last season was the third time McManus's green and gold silks were carried to National glory and it was a first victory in the race for jockey Paul Townend, who also gave I Am Maximus a memorable ride to land the Irish National at Fairyhouse the season before.

Mullins is confident the Grand National is a perfect fit for the son of Authorized given it concentrates his mind and curbs his roguish nature, and he believes he has the class to defy a higher mark in 2025.

I Am Maximus is watered down at Closutton on Wednesday morningCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "Paul gave him a fantastic ride last year, he rode him so cool and cold. When he asked him to quicken, I don't think we've seen a horse for years do that at Aintree. We're going to have to take whatever the handicapper gives us, but when you look at what he did in the last half-mile last year, you'd be hoping he's able to rise to it.

"He's a typical Authorized, they have a lot of things going in their mind other than racing. Fences really made a man of him as he had no respect for his hurdles. The older he's got, he matured late in life and the Aintree fences really caught his attention. I think that will suit him going back as some horses love Aintree and he could be one of those.

"There's a lot going on in his mind and if there's nothing going on around the place, he's just up to mischief. We thought if he went to Aintree, all the runners and the fences would grab his attention and that's what happened."

In landing his second National after Hedgehunter scored under Ruby Walsh in 2005, the winning prize-money gave Mullins huge impetus in his bid to land the British trainers' championship, which he did, becoming the first Irish trainer to win it since Vincent O'Brien in 1954.

The scene at Willie Mullins' yard on Wednesday morningCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We knew we had a good chance in the British trainers' championship before Aintree, but winning the National was always going to put us right in the mix and it was all to play for when I Am Maximus won," he said. 

"We got every bounce of the ball last spring, it was unbelievable. In those big handicaps at Ayr and Sandown, there were four close finishes and we won every one. It was stranger than fiction. We were delighted, but it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing."

Randox Grand National (Aintree, April 5, 2025)
bet365: 12 I Am Maximus, 16 Intense Raffles, 20 Gaillard Du Mesnil, Minella Cocooner, 25 Corbetts Cross, Three Card Brag, 33 bar.

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