Grand National winner I Am Maximus kicked ‘four pensioners’ at his victory parade

The Aintree legend is a ‘quirky character’ and you ‘shouldn’t stand in his way’ says trainer Willie Mullins said he’s so driven he doesn’t even enjoy victory parades

Grand National winner I Am Maximus is a real life gladiator who kicked ‘four pensioners’ at his victory parade.

Trainer Willie Mullins said the racehorse – which won a second Aintree classic on Saturday – is as fiery as the movie character he is named after. In 2000 Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator, Maximus – played by actor Russell Crowe – famously challenged the Roman emperor to a fight to the death.

And Willie said the super horse – which is hot on the hooves of Red Rum’s record three Grand National wins – has the same brass neck as Crowe’s movie warrior.

“He will eat you without salt,” he said. “He is a character – don’t stand in his way.”

The trainer said after his first National triumph in 2024 the thoroughbred was thrown a victory bash at a pub near his stables in Ireland.

“Normally the horses come back into the car park and we have an ice cream van for the kids and people want their photograph taken with the horse,” Willie said. “Galopin De Champ was there for about an hour-and-a-half and I think Lossiemouth was there for two hours probably.

“But I Am Maximus – he ate about three babies and kicked about four pensioners. We had to load him up and bring him home after five minutes. That’s I Am Maximus.”

Willie said the horse may have inherited his characteristics from his dad – 2007 Epsom Derby winner Authorized. I Am Maximus previously ignored top jockey Paul Townend’s instructions during the Irish Grand National.

“He’s by Authorized and horses by Authorized have that little bit of a quirk in them,” Willie said. “You could call it immaturity, whatever. They’re very good but they have that quirk. You just don’t want to annoy him. You want to get on his right side. He loves a battle.

“He’s a character with ability, that’s what he is.”

Jockey Paul said the horse was a ‘quirky devil’. “It took us a while to gel together,” he said. “But he’s a brave horse behind it all. He’s clever. He’s thinking about a lot of things and he knows his way around there now.”

His victory as favourite in Saturday’s big race cost bookies £100m. One lucky punter might just be brave enough to give him a hug after winning £900,000 from a £100,000 bet on him at 8-1.

Last night Paddy Power made racing’s new superstar 12-1 favourite to win next year’s National. His owner JP McManus said he would be going for the treble next year.

“We have a bit to do to catch up with Red Rum but we’ll definitely try,” he said. “Red Rum was the figurehead of the National and it’s nice to be even mentioned in the same breath as him. It’s just so exciting.”

Asked if he had backed his horse he said: “I had a little on.”

The Daily Star’s horse Wendigo – who is also set to enter next year’s big race – was installed at 66-1 .