I Am Maximus heads weights for Grand National

February 17, 2026 No Comments

I Am Maximus heads weights for Grand NationalImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, I Am Maximus won the Grand National in 2024 and was second last seasonByBen CollinsBBC Sport journalistPublished17 minutes agoComments

The 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus heads the weights for this year’s race at Aintree on 11 April.

The Willie Mullins-trained horse, owned by JP McManus, finished second last year between stablemates Nick Rockett and Grangeclare West.

The 10-year-old also headed the weights last year and will again carry 11st 12lb. No top weight has won the world’s greatest steeplechase since triple victor Red Rum in 1974.

Iroko, who finished fourth as favourite last year behind the one-two-three for Irish trainer Mullins, has been allotted 11st 1lb and is the current favourite.

British Horseracing Authority handicapper Martin Greenwood stated: “Last year, the first three horses home were all rated 160-plus [in pounds], and the Randox Grand National is the highest-class handicap of the season.”

I Am Maximus aims to become the ninth horse to be a multiple winner of the race.

“If successful for a second time that would almost certainly be the highest mark a horse has won off in the modern era,” Greenwood added.

“Neptune Collonges was rated 168 after he won the Grand National in 2012 and Suny Bay was second off 170 in 1998.

“For I Am Maximus to be second last year was one of the great modern performances in the Grand National and up there with Tiger Roll’s second win in 2019.”

Nick Rockett (11st 11lb) has had a couple of setbacks preventing him from running since winning last year’s Grand National as a 33-1 chance.

Other Mullins runners towards the head of the weights include Grangeclare West (11st 10lb), Impaire Et Passe (11st 5lb), Spanish Harlem (11st 3lb) and Lecky Watson (11st 2lb), while last season’s King George winner Banbridge (11st 11lb) and Haiti Couleurs (11st 10lb) are also towards the top of the list.

Approximate odds: 11-2 Iroki; 12-1 I Am Maximus; 14-1 Haiti Couleurs; 16-1 Panic Attack, Nick Rockett; 20-1 Grangeclare West, Monty’s Star; 22-1 Lecky Watson, Captain Cody; 25-1 Oscars Brother.

Grand National 2025 result – where your horse finished

Iroko to tune up at Kelso or Cheltenham

Iroko is owned by JP McManus but trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

The seven-year-old has run twice since last year’s Grand National, finishing second at Haydock in November before Jonjo O’Neill Jr rode him to victory over Firefox at Ascot in December.

“It’s frustrating that we’ve snuck up a couple [of pounds] since the Firefox run, I feel like they’ve stolen those two off us, but we can’t do much about that,” stated Guerriero.

“He’s got a lovely weight and is guaranteed a run. I just pray that it’s softer ground. He’s in great form. This season, since he’s had his wind op [surgery], he seems a lot better and straighter and happier.”

Iroko was second at Kelso a month before last year’s race and Guerriero expects to race there again in March, rather than at Cheltenham.

“One more run and we’ll be there,” he added. “I think the most likely option is that we’ll go to Kelso again.

“I would really fancy him [at Cheltenham], but I think we’ve got to go the easiest route really, which is probably going to be Kelso.”