ONE of Paul Townend’s greatest strengths as a rider is making challenging rides look a whole lot more straightforward than is actually the case.That was again evidenced to real effect in I Am Maximus’ historic second Grand National triumph last weekend.

Whether it be managing to keep a lid on the wayward Brandy Love in Grade 1 company a few seasons ago, caressing back-to-back top-level victories out of strong-travelling but error-prone Jasmin De Vaux last term, or even harnessing the enthusiasm of Ballyburn and a young Gaelic Warrior, the seven-time champion jockey so often gets those difficult balances on the money when it matters most. It is a truly elite quality, and his relationship with the horse now on the cusp of emulating Red Rum has been intriguing to follow.

Watching back I Am Maximus’ first two starts over fences, it’s hard to conceive that he’d ever have a chance of getting around in a Grand National. The men in white coats would have been on the way if suggesting he’d win two and finish second in another.

Townend was aboard for both of those introductory seconds over fences in December 2022. Notably, however, he has only ridden him four times since; once when winning an Irish Grand National and the other three at Aintree (form figures of 1121).

The Fairyhouse victory, for all that the Authorized gelding was thrown in off a mark of 149, must be one of the greatest rides in Townend’s career.

As J.P. McManus put it: “We talk about Paul’s ride in the Gold Cup [on Galopin Des Champs in 2023], but I don’t think anything surpasses that… If he was listening to me, I’d have said pull him up after going a mile.” David Casey hailed it as “absolutely unbelievable”.

What Townend might have learned from that day was a trust to let the Costello family graduate jump around in his own peculiar fashion, and then call on his clearly massive engine - only when the race was coming to boiling point. Watching him navigate the fences at Aintree last weekend, there is no way that the 10-year-old could be described as a comfortable conveyance to jump, Yet the now 169-time Grade 1-winning rider nearly appeared to morph into whatever shape was needed to accommodate his mount at all times. It was a wonderful piece of horsemanship to watch. A brief look at the RaceiQ jumping metrics reinforce the picture that I Am Maximus is by no means a simple ride over the Aintree fences.

Statistical view

While conscious not to place too much emphasis on the lengths gained or lost, given the average marker in the field can arguably become a little distorted when runners are coming home at long intervals and varying speeds, the winner had the third worst Jump Index figure among those who completed this year’s Randox-backed prize. RaceiQreckons he lost 4.22 lengths in jumping on his way around.

There is a more detailed analysis into this year’s race in Angus McNae’s column in The Irish Field this week (see page 10), though it’s also worth considering what I Am Maximus produced on his previous two visits to Aintree.

According to RaceiQ, Nick Rockett gained 23.16 lengths in his jumping, compared to the average runner in last year’s National. In the same renewal, I Am Maximus lost 6.83 lengths. In fact, he had the worst Jump Index score of any National finisher in 2025.

A year earlier, he was only the 19th best jumper in the field, as per the Jump Index figures, and lost 4.39 lengths compared to the average horse in the 2024 Grand National.

That said, was his indifferent jumping even spoken about by anyone heading into this year’s race? I certainly didn’t hear many voicing concerns. Townend’s ability to manage that aspect of his partner’s game is such an underrated factor in this success story.

Headgear angle

It must be said that the application of cheekpieces for the first time since his Leopardstown Christmas beginners’ chase second in 2022 was an inspired call from connections too. A year earlier, he didn’t travel as well as might have been expected.

As Timeform described it: “He lost an ideal spot on the inner in touch around the second Canal Turn and then circled the main pack (took three out no better than 14th) as he made an ambitious burst on the home turn to press the winner from the next.” Needing to make that move probably told late. The headgear helped to keep him in contention.

As a side note, the price of sheepskin could be expected to soar in Co Carlow based on the way this season has gone for Closutton’s cheekpieces crew; namely Spanish Harlem (Kerry National), Last Kingdom (Lartigue Hurdle), Kaid d’Authie (Ladbrokes Novice Chase), Majborough (Dublin Chase), Impaire Et Passe (Red Mills Chase) and Kalix Delabarriere (RYBO Handicap Hurdle).

What the Aintree jumping figures also do is demonstrate the quality apparently required more than ever now to capture the world’s most famous steeplechase. We saw this year that there is still a sense of jeopardy in the jumping stakes, with seven fallers and seven unseats, but the modern National demands significantly more class than previously.

Proven class

When I Am Maximus won his first Liverpool feature in 2024, he was already a Grade 1 winner of the Drinmore Novices’ Chase that season, and he beat three other highly-established Grade 1 winners into second, third and fourth: Delta Work, Minella Indo and Galvin.

Nick Rockett has the unusual distinction of having never run in a Grade 1 bumper, hurdle or chase, though he had clearly posted a significant level of ability to win a Thyestes Chase off 152, and the outstanding trial that is the Bobbyjo.

Behind him in second and third, however, were Grade 1 winners, I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West.

Again, there were only two Grade 1 scorers who managed to post a clear round in this year’s Grand National. One won the race and the other, Champ Kiely, ran with credit before his stamina possibly gave way in eighth.

The slight exception to that ‘Grade 1 quality’ theory is plot horses for the race, and the third-placed Jordans definitely falls into that category. Apparently laid out for this race, and getting in off an attractive 10st 8lb, he hadn’t won a Grade 1, but did have two top-level seconds as a novice last season - including at this meeting behind Caldwell Potter.

Connections have every right to feel like this was one that got away, with Ben Jones making his challenge much too early, but rider accuracy is crucial in a race where the margins for error are so minimal. It again highlights why the role played by Townend in I Am Maximus’ Aintree history cannot be underestimated.

He nails those often difficult judgement calls time and time again.