An Aintree punter with deep pockets is now an terrible lot richer after I Am Maximus’s Grand National victory.
Trackside bookmaker Fitzwilliam Sports activities revealed earlier than Saturday’s large race that that they had accepted a £100,000 wager at odds of 8/1 for the JP McManus horse to win the Nationwide – who had gained the race in 2024 and completed second in 2025.
And jockey Paul Townend rode the horse to victory in a win that emulated racing legend Crimson Rum – and gave that punter a pay-out value £900,000.
Johnny Dineen, fronting Fitzwilliam’s pitch, mentioned earlier than the race: ‘It is the largest wager we have ever taken, £100,000 at 8-1.
It is our greatest wager by a mile and we’ll must attempt to commerce a few of it off within the ring.
A punter at Aintree pocketed £900,000 in an unimaginable profitable wager on the Grand Nationwide
Trackside bookmaker Fitzwilliam Sports activities accepted the £100,000 wager earlier than the large race
‘It goes with out saying it will be a nasty outcome for us!’
Dineen had joked in a pre-race interview on ITV that the bookmaker may face ‘liquidation’ with such a giant wager going towards them.
However he added afterwards: ‘We had a nasty race however the cash misplaced is recoverable hopefully’ – having laid off ‘a good bit’ of the pay-out.
The betslip, proven on TV cameras, had left ITV’s betting ring host Brian Gleeson gasping ‘Oh my God.’
In addition to being the toast of the cash-rich punter, I Am Maximus turned the primary horse since Crimson Rum to regain his crown within the Grand Nationwide, as Willie Mullins additionally turned the primary coach since Vincent O’Brien within the Nineteen Fifties to win three successive editions of the Aintree spectacular.
In a race with loads of early drama that noticed final yr’s third Grangeclare West half firm with Patrick Mullins – who gained final yr aboard Nick Rockett – on the first, and Panic Assault fall on the third, I Am Maximus tracked the within path he is aware of so properly within the arms of Paul Townend.
Because the race started to develop, Ben Jones made a daring bid to complement his King George win on The Jukebox Man aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Jordans after two out – however a JP McManus-owned problem was looming and it was the heavily-backed 9-2 favorite who stormed dwelling greatest from the elbow to win the race for a second time, having additionally completed second 12 months in the past.
It was a document fourth win within the race for McManus, who additionally noticed his Iroko go two locations higher than final yr for second – one other first within the race for one proprietor to have the primary two dwelling. Jordans was third, with Johnnywho fourth.
Mullins, who joins Crimson Rum’s coach Ginger McCain and Fred Rimell as a four-time Nationwide-winning handler, mentioned: ‘It was name from JP, I might been taking place the Gold Cup route with him, however he mentioned to remain in Aintree with him as he felt he was properly handicapped. Paul simply executed it so properly.
‘He is an outstanding horse who bought a incredible experience and I believe essentially the most hassle he bought was from his stablemates and his co-pilots, they did not give him a lot room.
Paul Townend driving I Am Maximus celebrates as he crosses the end line to take victory
‘It’s (onerous to win off top-weight), however possibly the modern-day Nationwide is altering and we’re it a bit in a different way.
‘It is the race we aspire (to win). It is the race you wish to win and be part of – simply to have a runner is an amazing sensation.
‘He’s only a famous person – nothing fazes him. He comes out, does what he has to do and wins Nationals.’
He added: ‘It is the primary race all of us watch on tv, it is the race you develop up eager to win and simply to have a runner in it’s a super sensation.’
Requested if he thought I Am Maximus may additional emulate Crimson Rum with a historic third success subsequent yr, Mullins mentioned: ‘I assumed the horse ran a cracker final yr, he simply bought overwhelmed.
‘Hopefully he’ll be right here subsequent yr, JP could be very eager on the Nationwide for I Am Maximus, he says he loves the place and jumps the fences so properly. Hopefully we’ll all be right here subsequent yr.’
A delighted Townend mentioned: ‘He is powerful, is not he? He’ll gallop to the top of the world for you.
‘He nonetheless most likely did not journey with the passion of the primary yr, however I simply thought the cheekpieces helped within the center a part of the race.
‘I noticed the one which went in entrance, however I wasn’t going to be the one chasing him, I had sufficient going OK in entrance of me and I used to be in a position to get a result in the elbow.’
