Punter who placed £100,000 bet on Grand National wins big after I Am Maximus victory

A punter who placed a £100,000 bet on I Am Maximus to win the Grand National will no doubt be celebrating a historic victory.

Willie Mullins, who is one of the most successful racehorse trainers in history, was seeking a third-consecutive victory at Aintree after Nick Rockett beat 2024 winner I Am Maximus in last season’s renewal.

This year, I Am Maximus was among the bookies’ favourites to reclaim the crown and was trading at around 8/1.

In fact, after the horse's chances improved on Thursday morning with news that Rockett had been ruled out of this year's race due to coughing, many backed the 10-year-old bay gelding to win the National.

One such punter placed a £100,000 sum at 8/1, with the bet being broadcast on ITV ahead of Saturday's race.

ITV presenter Brian Gleeson was on hand to show viewers the "whopping" slip, which was also handled by on-course bookmaker Johnny Dineen, who claimed it was "the biggest bet we've ever laid by a mile".

"Oh my god," said Gleeson, who couldn't believe his eyes. "One hundred thousand at 8/1. That's what you call a proper bet."

Of course, that means the punter will have won £800,000 based on the 8/1 bet.

For the third successive year, jockey Paul Townend stuck with I Am Maximus, who became the first horse to carry top weight to victory since triple winner Red Rum in the 1970's.

In fact, I Am Maximus is the sixth horse in history to become a two-time Grand National winner.

Sir AP McCoy, who won the Grand National with Don’t Push It in 2010, backed I Am Maximus for the victory.

"I actually thought I Am Maximus was a bit unlucky not to win back-to-back Grand Nationals," he told the Liverpool Echo. "I fancy him again to carry top weight and I still think he’s got a very good chance.

"I thought Iroko ran such a great race last year. He’s going to be much better off having that experience. But I’m going to stick with I Am Maximus."

McCoy added: "I think he’s a classy horse. He was unlucky not to win last year and he’s ran a couple of great ones in Ireland. He ran the big race in Leopardstown, the Gold Cup. I still think he’s a class horse and I think he can carry the weight."

Fans react to eye-watering £100,000 bet at Grand National

Naturally, fans rushed to social media after the bet was broadcast on ITV.

One said: "£100k on a Grand National horse bet. Heavy that," and another commented: "Not to brag or anything but I also have £15 each way on him."

A third wrote: "Must have more money than sense," while a fourth added: "My word."

Many have raised eyebrows about I Am Maximus' age, but the oldest ever winner of the National was Peger Simple in 1853, with the horse being first past the post aged 15.

Grand National runners in full:

1. I Am Maximus

2. Pied Piper

3. Banbridge

4. Grangeclare West

5. Gerri Colombe

6. Haiti Couleurs

7. Spillane's Tower

8. Firefox

9. Monty's Star

10. Spanish Harlem

11. Lecky Watson

12. Champ Kiely

13. Iroko

14. Favori De Champdou

15. Three Card Brag

16. Oscars Brother

17. Mr Vango

18. High Class Hero

19. Stellar Story

20. Beauport

21. Captain Cody

22. Jagwar

23. Perceval Legallois

24. Gorgeous Tom

25. The Real Whacker

26. Quai De Bourbon

27. Answer To Kayf

28. Jordans

29. Final Orders

30. Marble Sands

31. Panic Attack

32. Top Of The Bill

33. Johnnywho

34. Twig