AINTREE, England – Never mind topweight of 166 pounds. I Am Maximus made history in the Saturday’s $1.34 million Grand National steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse, becoming the first two-time winner since Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, and the first horse to win non-consecutive runnings since Red Rum won for the second and third time in his epic career in 1974 and 1977. I Am Maximus carried more weight than any winner this century in the grueling race at 4 5/16 miles, and gave owner J.P. McManus a record fourth win in the race.  McManus, 75, is the most high-profile owner in British and Irish jump racing. He had six of the 34 runners in Saturday’s race. The McManus-owned Iroko (21-1) finished second for trainers Oscar Grenall and Jose Guerriero, while his Johnnywho (12-1) finished fourth for trainers Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill I Am Maximus gave trainer Willie Mullins his third consecutive Grand National win, and the fourth of his career. Mullins, 69, joins Ginger McCain and Fred Rimmell as four-time winners. Mullins won last year with Nick Rockett, who was withdrawn on Thursday after developing a cough. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. I Am Maximus was ridden by Paul Townend, who gave the 10-year-old gelding a patient ride. Townend, 35, kept I Am Maximus in the middle of the pack on the first of two circuits, racing toward the inner rail. Townend kept I Am Maximus off the pace until the field reached the final half-mile, gradually moving his mount into contention behind Jordans, who appeared to be on his way to a win with a five-length lead with three of the 30 fences remaining. Jordans (32-1) led after the final fence, at the start of a lengthy run-in of slightly less than 500 yards. I Am Maximus caught Jordans in the final sixteenth, and won by 2 1/2 lengths over Iroko, who also closed well late. Jordans, trained by Joseph O’Brien, finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Iroko. Of the 34 starters, there 16 finishers. There were seven fallers and seven horses that unseated their riders. Four horses that pulled up. The race was hardly underway when two of the contenders were out. Grangeclere West, an 8-1 chance trained by Mullins, unseated jockey Paddy Mullins at the first fence. Panic Attack, the lone mare in the race, fell at the third fence. She was the 6-1 second choice in American pools. With Saturday’s win, I Am Maximus ended a six-race losing streak since the 2024 Grand National. He carried topweight on the basis of having a lofty handicap rating based on his 2024 success.  I Am Maximus spotted his rivals from one to 44 pounds. The last horse to carry more than 166 pounds and win the Grand National was Red Rum at 168 pounds in 1974. Under the current conditions of the race, the maximum weight is 166 pounds, with a minimum of 142. I Am Maximus had three starts in Grade 1 weight-for-age races in Ireland during the current jump racing season. In his last start before the Grand National, I Am Maximus was fifth in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown Racecourse on Feb. 2. Gaelic Warrior, second in the Irish Gold Cup, scored a commanding win in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Britain’s leading weight-for-age race. Mullins hoped to run I Am Maximus in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13, but was overruled by McManus who had his eye on the Grand National. I Am Maximus, a French-bred by Authorized, has won 7 of 21 starts. He began his career with a win in a flat race at 2 1/16 miles at Cheltenham Racecourse in October 2020, a program held behind closed doors because of the pandemic. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.