Willie Mullins hopes the horse can become only the second in history to achieve the feat

Willie Mullins has secured nearly every major Jump racing honour throughout his illustrious training career, yet confesses he "would like nothing better" than to rewrite the history books by claiming a third Randox Grand National triumph with I Am Maximus.

Next year marks half a century since one of sport's most remarkable achievements, when Red Rum became the first - and remains the only - horse to capture the world's most celebrated Jump race three times on 2nd April 1977. A legendary name across Britain, Red Rum was famously prepared on Southport's sands by Ginger McCain, claiming Aintree glory in 1973 and 1974, placing second in 1975 and 1976, before reclaiming his Grand National crown in 1977.

In the 50 years following Red Rum's historic accomplishment, just two horses have secured multiple Grand National victories: Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, and I Am Maximus in 2024 and 2026. The latter, who also finished second to stable companion Nick Rockett at Aintree in 2025, now aims to match Red Rum's record in 2027 and will take the identical preparation route to Aintree as last season, Mullins has confirmed.

The 2027 Grand National unfolds at Aintree on Saturday 10th April and will carry Randox sponsorship for the 10th consecutive year. Boasting a total prize pot of £1 million, it stands as the world's richest Jump racing contest.

From his Closutton headquarters in County Carlow, Mullins revealed his seasonal strategy for the stable star to sportinglife.com.

He said: "I Am Maximus has come in from grass very well. I am very pleased with him. He's going through all his pre-season work good and taking it well. He looks good and strong.

"His route to the Grand National, I suppose, will be the same as last year. Probably the John Durkan (Punchestown, November 22nd), then going for the Savills (Leopardstown, December 28th) at Christmas, then the Irish Gold Cup (Leopardstown, January 30th) at the Dublin Racing Festival, and then on to Aintree.

"We will keep it simple, keep a routine, and hopefully he might be lucky enough to get a third Grand National."

Elaborating on what gives the J P McManus-owned son of Authorized such an edge at Aintree, the trainer continued: "He's a good jumper, he's intelligent and he loves the place. He just really adapts to those type of fences. Paul (Townend, jockey) gets on well with him too and it's a serious combination. All being well, we can get him there in the same sort of order."

Casting his mind back to Red Rum's legendary exploits at Aintree, Mullins reflected: "Who could ever forget Red Rum and Crisp (in the 1973 Grand National)? What a fantastic horse race it was on the day. It was just exhilarating stuff to watch Crisp and then Red Rum snatched it off him. But Red Rum went on and won it with 12 stone (in 1974).

"Red Rum had a huge following in Ireland because he was only bred down the road from here, about 25 miles away (by Martyn McEnery in County Kilkenny). We knew the people who bred him and foaled him. He had as many Irish followers as English followers.

"It would be tremendous to think that this fellow could be up in the same sort of cloud that Red Rum is considered to be."

Mullins currently sits alongside 19th Century trainer George Dockery, Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain as the joint-most successful handler in Grand National history with four wins, having first tasted glory with Hedgehunter back in 2005. McCain's legendary success with Red Rum was later followed by Amberleigh House's triumph in 2004.

Yet the trainer believes matching Ginger McCain's remarkable feat of guiding one horse to three Grand National victories would represent something truly extraordinary.

He concluded: "I would like nothing better than to be up in the same place (as Ginger McCain) - the trainer of one horse that won three Grand Nationals."