I Am Maximus wins Grand National after top pick crashes out at first fence

I Am Maximus swept home to win the Grand National after Corach Rambler crashed out at the first fence.

Corach Rambler won the Grand National in 2023 and was considered one of the favourites to do it again and follow in Tiger Blood and Red Rum’s footsteps.

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Jockey Paul Townend rode I Am Maximus to victoryCredit: GettyBut a brutal first fence saw the 7-1 joint-favourite lose his rider after falling.

I Am Maximus, ridden by jockey Paul Townend, pulled clear after the final hurdle to win by some distance with Delta Work finishing second and Minella Indo third.

The victory for I Am Maximus also saw Willie Mullins claim his second Grand National winner, ending a long 19-year wait when Hedgehunter won in 2005.

Rachel Blackmore looked like she was on course to win her second Grand National riding Minella Indo.

READ MORE ON GRAND NATIONALHowever, with 14 other horses gunning for victory in an incredibly tense race, I Am Maximus emerged from the crowd to land victory.

Townend said: “What an unbelievable race and an unbelievable horse. It is a bit surreal, to be honest.

“I ended up being first to the first and got to the Melling Road and he backed back.

“He got careful on the second circuit but I was trying to conserve energy. I didn’t get the clearest run between the second-last and last.

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I Am Maximus swept to victory as one of the favourites

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Corach Rambler’s rider was unseated after the first hurdle”I had the ones in front of me in my sights and he responded like I thought he would

“Gold Cups and Grade Ones are special but Grand Nationals are different. You need so much luck. I am a lucky boy.”

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Last year’s Grand National was blighted by protesters, who managed to get onto the course to disrupt the race.

After the disturbances were cleared, Corach Rambler managed to go on to claim victory.

But there would be no consecutive victory for the Scottish-trained horse, with Tiger Roll the last horse to win back-to-back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019.

Legendary horse Red Rum was the last to manage that feat, doing so in 1973 and 1974.

Corach Rambler crashed out at the earliest stage in a huge shock, falling at the first hurdle and unseating his rider in the process.