Grand National 2026: I Am Maximus is Barry Geraghty’s choice for Aintree spectacle
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty is siding with I Am Maximus for the 2026 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 11 - Sports News Blitz’s horse racing expert Kieran McHugh reports.
Geraghty won the Grand National in 2003, aboard Monty’s Pass for Jimmy Mangan and is no stranger to the race.
For this year’s renewal, he is siding with the Willie Mullins-trained 2024 Grand National winner, I Am Maximus.
Explaining why, Geraghty said: “I was leaning towards Grangeclare West, but when I watched back the replay of last year, I thought I AM MAXIMUS came to win the race and just looked like a horse that got tired at the finish.
“I know the Willie Mullins team felt he wasn’t as ready for the race as they would have liked when he missed the Bobbyjo last season.
“He didn’t line up in the Bobbyjo this year either, but I assume they will have compensated for that elsewhere this year.
Barry Geraghty puts the final touches on The Chair ahead of the Grand National. [Picture: William Hill]
“He’s shown better form this season than he did when coming into the race 12 months ago and I think he’s had a more straightforward preparation for the race.
“He put in an excellent run when finishing second in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, where he had Galopin Des Champs and also Grangeclare West behind him.
“That’s brilliant form and he didn’t run badly either to finish fifth in the Irish Gold Cup at the DRF when last seen.
“I imagine they didn’t have him fully tuned up for that run either.
“The fact that Paul Townend rides tells you everything about his chance.
“The more I look at it, the more I keep coming back to him. I think he is the one to beat.”
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