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Mullins Favourite For British Title After National Triumph With I Am Maximus

I Am Maximus (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) produced one of the most impressive Grand National-winning performances in some time to propel Willie Mullins to the head of the British Trainers' Championship.

Owned by JP McManus and ridden by Paul Townend, last year's Irish Grand National hero represented winner number two in the Aintree showpiece for Mullins, who sent out Hedgehunter (Ire) (Montelimar) to success in 2005.

Returned the 7-1 co-favourite, I Am Maximus stormed clear of Delta Work (Fr) (Network {Ger}) in second with former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}) back in third.

Betfair reacted to the victory by making Ireland's dominant jumps trainer an 8-15 favourite to clinch a breakthrough British Championship ahead of Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton at 2-1 and 5-1, respectively.

Mullins said, “I thought Paul was super on him as I'm not sure the horse was giving him a lot of help on the way round and I could see him just minding him the whole way round.

“We saw that last year in the Irish National and he has supreme confidence in the horse and he always has that bit in the tank. When he was cut off going to the second last or the last, you saw him coming out around and just biding his time waiting for his challenge to deliver.

“I could see Paul's body language and he was happy, so I was happy then. I don't think I said anything until he got over the last and then I let go (and gave him a cheer).

“I'm buzzing here now at the moment and it's huge. As far as I know our team is back in full order with no injuries or anything and I'm happy that we have a full complement of horses and riders coming back in.”

Mullins was winning the race for a second time but it was a first Aintree National victory for Townend.

The rider said, “I ended up being first down to the first to give him a look and as he got to the Melling Road he started backing off so it wasn't a great start, but the volume of horses pushed him down over the first three and he got a bit careful on the second circuit but I was trying to conserve as much as I could as well.

“He didn't get the clearest run from the second last to the last, but it kind of helped me and I had a feeling when I got him out he was going to start motoring in the clear air and he did.”

Townend added, “The ones in front of me, I'm sure they weren't looking for me but I had them well in my sights. I was hoping he would respond like I thought he would.

“Gold Cups are Gold Cups and Grade 1s are hard to win. But Grand Nationals are just a bit different. You just need so much luck and I can't believe it, I'm a lucky boy.”

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Derby Winner And Tiger Roll’s Sire Authorized To Stand In Ireland Next Year

Authorized (Ire), the brilliant Derby-winning son of Montjeu (Ire) who has made his name as a leading jumps sire through the exploits of Tiger Roll (Ire), Nichols Canyon (GB) and I Am Maximus (Fr), is set to return to Ireland where he will stand at Ger O'Neill's Capital Stud in County Kilkenny.

O'Neill revealed on Thursday that a deal has been struck with the Jockey Club of Turkey, where Authorized has stood since 2020, to bring the 19-year-old back to a jurisdiction where his stock is in most demand.

Dual Grand National and multiple Cheltenham festival winner Tiger Roll has advertised the prowess of Authorized over jumps with great distinction but the 2007 Derby hero is more than just a one-hit wonder. Stayers' Hurdle scorer Nichols Canyon and this year's Irish Grand National victor I Am Maximus have also done their bit to add to the reputation of Authorized over jumps.

Those results have carried over to the sales ring, where 3-year-old stores by Authorized averaged over €90,000 this year, and O'Neill is convinced the move to bring the stallion back to Ireland on the eve of his 20th birthday will represent good news for National Hunt breeders.

Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, O'Neill said, “We're delighted to announce that we have secured Authorized and bought him back from Turkey. He's just gone into quarantine now and he'll be back to stand with us here at Capital Stud in the new year. He [Authorized obviously won the Derby himself and is a very famous horse. Through his progeny, he's really starting to leave a legacy with Tiger Roll and I Am Maximus both Grand National winners.”

O'Neill added, “[His success is] probably from a lot of Flat mares, not National Hunt mares, his statistics are unbelievable. He's 65% runners to winners and his progeny at the sales are really sought after. He's averaging 100,000 for his geldings this year at the store sales. He's really sought after by all of the best trainers and everybody wants to have an Authorized.

“I [spent] the last seven or eight months trying to buy him. The Jockey Club of Turkey have never sold a stallion. It has been a long process and we have built up the reputation. We gave a lot of money for him. He's an older horse and is turning 20 so it's a big risk. A few of us got together and put the money up. I suppose we were thinking with our hearts as much as our heads on this one as we really wanted to have him home.”

Authorized will stand alongside fellow recent recruits Triple Threat (GB) and Castle Star (Ire) along with Mirage Dancer (GB), Hunting Horn (Ire) and Alkumait (GB) at Capital Stud in 2024.

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