Joint-favourite I Am Maximus has stormed to victory in the 2024 Grand National at Aintree.
The 7-1 shot - ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins - bided his time through an absorbing race, watching several other horses set the pace.
However, I am Maximus benefitted over the final two fences and had the stamina and speed to surge clear of Minella Indo to win in style.
Delta Work pipped Minella Indo - both 28-1 shots - just before the line, while 40-1 shot Galvin came home in fourth place.
Nevertheless, they all played second fiddle to the eight-year-old, who decimated the rest of the field by at least 15 lengths.
I Am Maximus wins the Randox Grand National! 🏆#ITVRacing | #GrandNational | @PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/y1DmJbJEzX
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 13, 2024
Speaking to ITV Racing, Townend said: "What an unbelievable race and an unbelievable horse. It is a bit surreal, to be honest.
"I ended up being first to the first and got to the Melling Road and he backed back. He got careful on the second circuit but I was trying to conserve energy. I didn't get the clearest run between the second-last and last.
"I had the ones in front of me in my sights and he responded like I thought he would. Gold Cups and Grade Ones are special but Grand Nationals are different. You need so much luck. I am a lucky boy."
Corach Rambler - the pre-race favourite for much of the week and the joint-favourite come start time - unseated his jockey at the first fence, while Kitty's Light and Ain't That A Shame finished fifth and sixth to complete the places.
Darren Plant
