Aintree is set to welcome back a familiar face as I Am Maximus has been allocated top weight for the 2025 Randox Grand National, scheduled for . The Willie Mullins-trained ten-year-old, victorious in the 2024 edition of the world’s most famous steeplechase, will carry 11st 12lb in his bid for back-to-back titles.
The weight reflects I Am Maximus’s impressive form, having also finished second in last season’s race. Mullins acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating it would be “tough” to repeat the win under the increased burden. No horse carrying top weight has won the Grand National since Red Rum’s third triumph in 1974, a statistic underlining the difficulty of the task.
The allocation of weights, unveiled on Tuesday, also sees last year’s third-place finisher, Grangeclare West, also under the Mullins banner, carrying 11st 10lb. Mullins has a strong hand in this year’s race, with Impaire Et Passe (11st 5lb), Spanish Harlem (11st 3lb) and Lecky Watson (11st 2lb) all featuring prominently in the early stages of the handicap. Nick Rockett, who finished ahead of I Am Maximus last season, is allotted 11st 11lb but has faced setbacks that have prevented him from running to date.
Beyond the Mullins contingent, several other notable contenders are poised to challenge. Banbridge, the 2024 King George winner, will carry 11st 11lb, alongside Gerri Colombe and Grey Dawning, both at 11st 10lb. Haiti Couleurs is also weighted at 11st 10lb.
Currently, Iroko, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, is the bookmakers’ joint favourite alongside Inothewayurthinkin. Iroko, who finished fourth as the favourite twelve months ago, has been assigned 11st 1lb. Guerriero expressed a degree of frustration with the allocation, noting a slight increase since Iroko’s recent victory over Firefox at Ascot in December. “We’d like a bit less, but we’ll take that, definitely!” he said. “It’s just frustrating that we’ve just snuck up a couple (of pounds) since the Firefox run… I feel like they’ve stolen those two off us.”
Despite the weight, Guerriero remains optimistic, highlighting Iroko’s improved condition following a wind operation. “He seems like he’s improved more at home than he’s gone up, to me, so he’s got a lovely weight and is guaranteed a run. I just pray that it’s softer ground.” The team is currently considering options for a final prep race, with Kelso emerging as the most likely venue. A previous run at Kelso proved beneficial last year, providing sufficient time to prepare for the Grand National.
Guerriero also indicated a potential contender in Jagwar (10st 10lb), though his participation hinges on a strong performance in a race exceeding two miles and seven and a half furlongs. “Jagwar’s only a maybe,” Guerriero explained. “He might end up in the Ultima at Cheltenham and that might decide for us what happens. It was a bit of a back-up entry for him, Aintree.” He added that Jagwar’s improvement this season has been somewhat slower than anticipated.
Martin Greenwood, the British Horseracing Authority handicapper, emphasized the increasing quality of the Grand National field. “Last year, the first three horses home were all rated 160-plus, and the Randox Grand National is the highest-class handicap of the season,” Greenwood stated. He further highlighted the significance of I Am Maximus’s potential achievement, noting that a successful defense with a rating of 168 would be the highest mark a horse has carried to victory in the modern era. He drew parallels to Neptune Collonges (rated 168 in 2012) and Suny Bay (second off 170 in 1998), placing I Am Maximus’s previous performance “up there with Tiger Roll’s second win in 2019.”
JP McManus, owner of both I Am Maximus and Iroko, holds a significant interest in the race, with nine entries in the top 43 weighted horses, offering him multiple chances to secure a fourth Grand National victory. Delta Work and Minella Indo, who finished second and third respectively last year, are also weighted at 11st 2lb and 11st 1lb, respectively, adding further depth to McManus’s challenge.
The stage is now set for a compelling renewal of the Grand National, with I Am Maximus facing a stern test of his ability to overcome a demanding weight and repeat his triumph from 2024. The race promises to be a captivating contest, showcasing the best of National Hunt racing and attracting a global audience.
