Grand National 2024 – I Am Maximus will go for Gold not Aintree again

Trainer Willie Mullins says that I Am Maximus will be aimed at the 2025 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup rather than a repeat bid in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse.

The eight-year-old – who had won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse last year – completed the double when scoring superbly by seven-and-a-half lengths, under jockey Paul Townend, at Aintree on Saturday afternoon. Victory provided Mullins with a second Grand National victory 19 years on from his first with Hedgehunter in 2005. That Trevor Hemmings-owned horse also went on to try and strike Gold at the following season's Cheltenham Festival. And Mullins sees him as the ideal horse for a crack at the blue riband at Prestbury Park next March.

Barely a month since Galopin Des Champs enjoyed his own welcome from the locals after giving the master of Closutton a fourth Gold Cup triumph, I Am Maximus was paraded through the streets of Leighlinbridge in County Carlow on Tuesday evening. But it looks unlikely that I Am Maximus will mark the 20th anniversary of Mullins' first National success by bidding for another. He will instead be part of Mullins' powerful Gold Cup squad which should include dual winner Galopin Des Champs and high-class novice Fact To File.

I Am Maximus is a 20-1 chance with William Hill, Betfred and BetVictor for next year's Gold Cup behind stable-mate and dual winner Galopin Des Champs, who is a general 3-1 chance with most bookmakers to land a hat-trick of victories next March. Irish trainer Mullins' latest Aintree hero is also a general 16-1 chance with most firms to defend his Grand National crown on April 12 2025.

But Mullins said on Tuesday evening: "I Am Maximus is definitely a Gold Cup horse and I couldn't see much point in