TIGER Roll and Red Rum remain the only two back-to-back Grand National winners since the 1930s so the challenge facing I Am Maximus in this year’s Randox-backed feature is clearly a significant one.

However, given the emphatic style in which he won Aintree’s showpiece event by seven and a half lengths last year, an 8lb higher mark may not be insurmountable for J.P. McManus’ National specialist.