We have barely closed the door on this year’s National Hunt season, and already I Am Maximus is the clear antepost favourite for the 2027 Grand National.
His position at the head of the market is not exactly a surprise, and it says as much about his own brilliance as it does about the modern Aintree staying chaser.
On offer for as low as 12/1 with some bookies, the ten-year-old has already etched his name into the history books with wins in 2024 and 2026 and, of course, that second place in 2025, so the prospect of him returning to Aintree in 2027 in search of yet more glory has bookmakers and fans on red alert.
An Aintree Superstar
Post race in 2026, pundits were quick to compare I Am Maximus to the legendary Red Rum, a comment that owner JP McManus was quick to both be flattered by, but also to temper enthusiasm – after all, there is only one Red Rum.
But, I Am Maximus is not just another classy Irish staying chaser. He is now firmly in the conversation with some of the all‑time Grand National greats.
His first victory in the race came in 2024, when he stormed clear from the elbow and powered away from high‑class rivals such as Delta Work, Minella Indo, and Galvin, having been sent off as a strongly supported favourite with the Best UK bookies.
That performance confirmed what many suspected after his Irish Grand National success: here was a horse with the stamina and temperament tailor‑made for Aintree’s unique test.
Rather than being a one‑off, that win proved the springboard to a remarkable Aintree record.
I Am Maximus returned in 2025 to finish in second behind stablemate Nick Rockett and, undeterred, was back at Aintree again in 2026, where he pulled off a rare feat last achieved by Red Rum when reclaiming the Grand National crown – and he did it off top weight!
Why The 2027 Market Revolves Around Him
When we look at antepost markets for 2027, proven course form is gold dust, and there is no more powerful profile at Aintree right now than his.
The moment the 2026 Grand National was in the books, firms wasted little time in framing their early prices for 2027, and I Am Maximus went straight in at the head of the betting.
Several layers now make him a general 12/1 shot to win again, a notably short quote so far in advance of the race for a horse who will be 11 years old by the time he lines up.
Across the board, early Grand National lists show I Am Maximus sitting alone at the top, with the next potential challengers – names like Soldier In Milan, Jordans, and Iroko – trading at bigger prices in behind.
The fact that bookmakers are so united about his status, this far out, is telling, and says they expect him not only to return but to remain a central player for at least another season, despite the inevitabilities of advancing age.
The Mullins, Townend, and McManus Factor
Antepost favourites are rarely priced on bare form alone, and in I Am Maximus’s case the people around him are a huge part of the story.
Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden to National glory by Paul Townend, and owned by the powerhouse operation of JP McManus, he has behind him the most formidable team jumps racing can offer.
Mullins has now turned the Grand National into yet another of his personal fiefdoms, adding multiple wins in the race with I Am Maximus to his earlier success with Hedgehunter, and compiling a record of consecutive victories that invites comparison with Vincent O’Brien’s Aintree dominance of the 1950s.
Townend, for his part, has shown an innate understanding of how to deliver I Am Maximus late and fast, timing his challenge perfectly on more than one occasion around Aintree’s long run‑in.
McManus, meanwhile, has become the most successful owner in Grand National history, with four wins, with I Am Maximus’s two wins adding further depth to a roll of honour that also features Don’t Push It and Minella Times.
History Beckons – But So Do The Risks
The narrative thread that drives much of the early buzz is the tantalising prospect of I Am Maximus emulating Red Rum by winning three Grand Nationals. We’ve had it before with Tiger Roll, the most recent dual winner, but 2026 moved him into very rarefied company.
A 2027 victory would place him outright alongside Aintree’s most iconic hero. It is little wonder, then, that social media, racing columns, and betting previews have quickly turned their attention to whether he can go to the well once more.
Yet even his most ardent admirers acknowledge that the price is tight this far from the day.
I Am Maximus will be another year older, he is certain to be asked to carry top weight again, and he still has to come through another full campaign sound and in form before connections can even think about returning to Aintree.
The Grand National is a race that demands everything to go right in terms of preparation, luck in running, and jumping rhythm, and antepost punters are effectively betting that this remarkable horse can thread that needle yet again.
Is It Possible?
Ultimately, I Am Maximus’s status as the antepost favourite for the 2027 Grand National is as much a reflection of the modern race as it is of his individual brilliance.
Willie Mullins himself has said that we all need to start looking at the race through a different lens, where the rules that applied for decades are no longer in play. The field is reduced, the fences are easier, and it no longer possesses the same challenge that it once did.
Heavier-weight horses can and do win, even top weight, as proven this year. High‑class staying chasers increasingly target Aintree, and the very best horses can build long‑term relationships with the race in a way that once seemed impossible.
For now, the layers are taking no chances, keeping him short at the head of their lists and inviting fans to weigh romance against risk. Whether you see 12/1 as stingy or fair, there is no denying that the 2027 market already has a clear focal point – and his name is I Am Maximus.
