FOR the third occasion, the famed colours of South Liberties hurling club were carried into the winners enclosure at Liverpool’s Aintree Race Course after I am Maximus won the £500,000 Grand National for owner and Ballysheedy native JP McManus.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the 7/1 shot was ridden to victory by Paul Townend.
Said McManus: “I love everything about the race. I love Liverpool, the excitement of coming here, the build-up to the race. It’s just a very special place among very special people.”
Of the trainer, he added: “I don’t have to say anything about Willie – it has all been said already, and if it isn’t said, people know it. He’s patient – he’s everything you could ask for in a trainer. He delivers.”
Mullins added of I Am Maximus: “I think he could be a Gold Cup horse, but we don’t know how good he could be because he doesn’t do it at home. He’s quirky, but he has huge ability and until others get the better of him, we won’t know how good he is.”
McManus previously won the famed event with Don’t Push It back in 2010 and more recently with Minella Times in 2021.
