A racegoer at Aintree has secured what is being hailed as the largest single bet ever won on the Grand National, following a staggering £100,000 gamble on the victorious horse I Am Maximus. The Irish bookmaker Johnny Dineen disclosed during ITV's live coverage on Saturday that this punter was poised to collect an astonishing £800,000 payout after backing I Am Maximus at odds of 8-1.
Historic Wager and Bookmaker Reaction
Johnny Dineen, in a conversation with ITV presenter Brian Gleeson, revealed the monumental scale of the bet, stating, 'We've laid a whopping bet on I Am Maximus, and it's the biggest bet we've ever laid by a mile.' Gleeson responded with amazement, exclaiming, 'oh my god, that's what you call a proper bet.' Dineen further elaborated on the financial implications, noting, 'We'll have to do a bit of trading with it later on, we don't intend to stand up for £800,000. We'll have to give some money around the [betting] ring at different stages, we don't intend to go into liquidation. It would be a bad loser for us, for sure.'
I Am Maximus Makes Grand National History
I Am Maximus proceeded to triumph in the Grand National for a second consecutive year, etching its name in racing annals as the first horse to achieve this feat since the legendary Red Rum accomplished it 49 years prior. Trainer Willie Mullins praised the composure of jockey Paul Townend, remarking, 'It was really special. People from the outside looking at it may not realise how cool Paul Townend was. Most guys would have teared after Jordans but Paul just sat there, came round the bend and you could see the clock in his head turning. Sure enough, as they came the second last and came to the elbow, he could sense he was coming back to him and then he just applied the accelerator and he was away.'
Mullins also highlighted the strategic decision to race at Aintree, influenced by owner JP McManus, saying, 'I have always known he is such a good horse and I have always had such good faith in him and I wanted to go down the Gold Cup route this year because he has won a Grand National but JP [McManus] was insistent, this horse loves Aintree. His good judgement has proved correct.'
Jockey's Perspective on the Victory
Winning jockey Paul Townend shared his insights with ITV Racing, emphasizing the horse's endurance and skill. He stated, 'He's tough. I think the cheekpieces helped in the middle of the race. When they jumped off, I got into a good rhythm but I wasn't going to be the one chasing the ones in front. He's a really, really good horse and although Grangeclare West and Nick Rockett looked good in training, this lad wasn't telling me not to ride him. He is so good and has such an engine. He will gallop to the end of the world for you. I am really privileged. What a horse. Grand Nationals and Gold Cups are the pinnacle of the sport and I have them both.'
Grand National 2026 Results Overview
The full results of the Grand National 2026 are as follows:
- I Am Maximus – 9/1 fav
- Firefox – 40/1
- Iroko – 18/1
- Jordans – 28/1
- Johnnywho – 12/1
- High Class Hero – 66/1
- Favori De Champdou – 40/1
- Final Orders – 22/1
- Champ Kiely – 25/1
- Three Card Brag – 50/1
- Monty's Star – 14/1
- Answer To Kayf – 100/1
- Gorgeous Tom – 20/1
- Imperial Saint – 50/1
- Haiti Couleurs – 28/1
- Twig – 40/1
This event underscores the high stakes and dramatic narratives that define the Grand National, blending historic racing achievements with unprecedented betting triumphs.
