Joint-favourite I Am Maximus wins incredible Grand National as defending champ Corach Rambler unseats at the first

3 weeks ago 31

JOINT-FAVOURITE I Am Maximus absolutely powered home to win the Grand National for all-conquering Irish trainer Willie Mullins – as punters bashed the bookies in style.

Jockey Paul Townend stalked and stalked on the JP McManus-owned 7-1 chance before putting the afterburners on after the last.

Paul Townend celebrates winning the Grand National on I Am Maximus[/caption]

I Am Maximus passes the post in first after winning an absorbing Grand National[/caption]

And the Irish Grand National winner, who was sent off joint-fav with the heavily backed Limerick Lace, was not for catching in the chase for the £500,000 first-place prize.

His job was made a lot easier after defending champ Corach Rambler spectacularly unseated at the first – amid controversy over the start of the race.

Townend, winning a third Grand National for the owner and his first as a jockey, said: “Gold Cups are Gold Cups but the Grand National is just different – I can’t believe it.

“It’s an unbelievable race, but he’s an unbelievable horse.

“It’s a bit surreal to be honest. I ended up being first to the first fence, but when he started backing off, it wasn’t a great start.

“He got a little careful on the second circuit so I was trying to conserve as much energy as I could, but I didn’t get a clear run. When I got him out, he was motoring.

“I’m sure the ones in front weren’t looking for me, but he’s responded like I thought he would!”

Delta Work was second at 28-1 under Jack Kennedy while former Gold Cup hero Minella Indo came third at 28-1 too with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle.

Galvin completed the top four at 40-1 while ‘the public’s horse’ Kitty’s Light – whose trainer’s young daughter is battling cancer – came a brave fifth at 12-1.

Multi-millionaire amateur jockey David Maxwell silenced his critics by finishing sixth on Ain’t That A Shame, pocketing a hefty sum in the process.

There was drama at the first when Corach Rambler, who had been fancied to do the double after finishing third in the Gold Cup, came down steeply and sent jockey Derek Fox crashing to the turf.

Corach Rambler had been sent off 15-2 after being at the head of betting markets for months.

But punters who opted for the Irish runner over Lucinda Russell’s Scottish charge were left celebrating after getting one over the bookies.

One said: “I Am Maximus delivered a knockout blow in the big one for punters as he was one of our biggest liabilities.

“The placed horses weren’t kind to us either but there’s always next year!”

Mullins, who has won everything in racing, gleamed afterwards saying: “This is huge. And I’m so happy all our runners and riders are coming back in without any injuries.”

The Jockey Club reported that Peter Bowen’s horse Mac Tottie was put into a horse ambulance but it is believed he will be perfectly fine.

Thankfully, all other jockeys and horses were unhurt in the world’s most famous race.

Some 21 horses finished the race in all and there were two non-runners, Chambard and Run Wild Fred, earlier in the day.