Full Grand National 2024 result including 1-2-3-4-5-6 places and fallers

13 April 2024 , 16:11

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Paul Townend celebrates victory on I Am Maximus (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

I Am Maximus claimed the £1million Randox Grand National, delivering a second win in the race for Willie Mullins and first for jockey Paul Townend.

Just as Blackmore, who made history in 2021 when becoming the first female jockey to win the race on Minella Times, appeared to have another triumph sewn up on Minella Indo, I Am Maximus surged past her for a decisive win.

Last year’s Irish Grand National winner scored by seven and a half lengths as the 7-1 joint favourite with Delta Work getting up to claim second place with the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo third.

Defending champion Corach Rambler was the first casualty of the race, unseating jockey Derek Fox at the first fence. But that was the only drama as there was none of the pre-race controversy of 12 months ago which led to the race being delayed by 14 minutes by animal rights protesters.

A 75 minute earlier start time at 4pm and a new race start positioned closer to the first fence to encourage the field of 32 to approach the jump at a slower speed had the desired effect. After the completion of the first circuit there were 28 horses still in contention, many of whom were still close enough to have a shot at winning as they turned into the straight for the finial time towards the winning post.

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There were five horses lined abreast over the last. Blackmore made her move approaching the Elbow on the long run-in. But once Townend, who had smuggled the doubtful jumper I Am Maximus around the course down the inside, pounced, the race was over.

The Jockey Club reported all the horses returned safely and there were no injuries to jockeys. Delta Work struck into his right hind leg, Adamantly Chosen bled from the nose and Mac Tottie, who was pulled up, was lame on his right fore but was able to walk into the horse ambulance to be taken off the track for further evaluation.

Full Grand National 2024 result including 1-2-3-4-5-6 places and fallers

Jockey Paul Townend with the trophy after winning the Randox Grand National (PA)

Townend, adding a first Grand National victory to four wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup said: "It was an unbelievable race and he's an unbelievable horse. It's a bit surreal to be honest.

“I ended up actually being first down to the first to give him a look but when I got to the Melling Road he started backing off it, so it was not a great start.

“The volume of horses just pushed me down over the first three and he got a little careful on the second circuit, but I was trying to conserve as much as I could as well.

"We didn't get the clearest run from the second last to the last, but it kind of helped me and I felt that when I got him out he was going to start motoring when he got into clear air, which he did.

“The ones in front of me, I'm sure they weren't looking for me, but I had them well in my sights and I was hoping he'd respond as I thought he would.

“The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup and Grade 1s are hard to win, but Grand Nationals are a bit different and you need so much luck. I can't believe it. I'm a lucky boy. It’s what every young boy with a pony wants to do.”

Mullins was a previous winner with Hedgehunter 2005 and his second victory has put the 17-time Irish champion jumps trained in front in the British jumps trainers’ championship. He said: “That was an excellent ride. As I said before the race, we don’t know how good this horse is. Today he showed us that he’s better than he has been, anyway."

I Am Maximus joined Mullins after previous owner Mike Grech moved the horse from Nicky Henderson to Ireland. He was subsequently bought by McManus before Grech's death, aged 63, in September last year.

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"It's extraordinary how we came to have him.," Mullins said. "Nicky Henderson had him after Henrietta Knight bought him for Mike Grech. When Mike moved his horses to Ireland Nicky said make sure you get that horse, and so thanks to Nicky and thanks to Henrietta, who organised all of that. That's why we are here today."