Willie Mullins confirms I Am Maximus will aim to match the legendary Red Rum and win THREE Grand Nationals

WILLIE MULLINS has confirmed Grand National hero I Am Maximus will head back to Aintree to defend his £500,000 title – in a bid to become the next Red Rum.

The iconic chaser won the world’s most famous race three times and Mullins wants to do the same with his Closutton colossus.

The JP McManus-owned superstar, who won in breathtaking style last April, will be joined by two other runners from Mullins’ Irish headquarters.

I Am Maximus was sent off a well-backed 7-1 for the 2024 renewal and found an amazing turn of foot to hammer runner-up Delta Work by seven-and-a-half lengths.

Mullins had said the Gold Cup would be on his agenda after that – and it still is.

But first will come another bid to claim the world’s greatest race for his billionaire owner.

Red Rum won the National in 1973, 1974 and 1977 – and came second in 1975 and 1976.

He is arguably the most famous horse of all time, but Mullins reckons his eight-year-old could match him.

Mullins said: “After the Grand National last year, I said that I think I Am Maximus is a Gold Cup horse and I still do.

“But I think connections are much happier to go back for the Grand National and have another good go at it.

“Red Rum won the race three times and Tiger Roll won two. I think JP would be keen to have a horse that could do that – win two and maybe go on for a third one.

“If you don’t try you don’t succeed, so that is our plan.”

And Mullins isn’t concerned about the weight he will have to carry in a much-changed race which now looks to favour those smuggled into the race.

He said: “I haven’t got a starting point for him yet. Last year he ran in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown and then the Irish Gold Cup and then the Bobbyjo Chase.

“I would imagine those three races will be his targets and then back to Aintree for another go at the National.

“In reality he will not have a lot more weight than last year when he carried 11st 6lb. It won’t be like a 10st 5lb horse going up to 11st 5lb.

“He is a strong horse who is still maturing. I was really delighted how he came back from a summer’s grass and how strong he looks. I think he could make that jump and carry the weight.

“Paul gave him a fantastic ride last season. He rode him so cold.

“Then when he asked him to go don’t think we have seen a horse do what he did at Aintree for years.

“We have to take what the handicapper gives us but when you look at what he did in the last half mile last year you have to hope he can rise to it.”

Mullins confirmed Scottish Grand National winner Macdermott and bet365 Gold Cup king Minella Cocooner are likely to join him in the line up.

Grand National odds via Paddy Power

12-1 I Am Maximus
18-1 Intense Raffles
20-1 Corbetts Cross, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Inothewayurthinkin
25-1 Minella Cocooner, Iroko, Kittys Light, Meetingofthewaters
33-1 bar

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