I AM AMAZING Maximus does Grand job on Aintree rival
I AM MAXIMUS jumped to the head of the Grand National betting with a 14-length beating of fellow Aintree hope Vanillier in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.
Vanillier, who finished second to Corach Rambler in the 2023 National, was backed into 8-1 market leader to go one better after the weights for this year’s race were published on Tuesday.
But I Am Maximus and Vanillier now share 10-1 favouritism after jockey Jody Mcgarvey’s win.
“He’s a funny horse but he has huge ability and the older he gets the more he matures and that ability is coming out,” said Willie Mullins, who saddled the JP Mcmanus-owned eight-yearold to a first victory over fences in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse last April.
“I thought that was a huge performance to give that sort of weight to a horse like Vanillier. If I came up here today and he’d finished second to Vanillier I’d have been quite pleased going home – so to do what he did was a big jump in class.”
I Am Maximus had been 40-1 to give Mullins, successful with Hedgehunter in 2005, a second National triumph and the Closutton trainer added: “I’d imagine he’ll go straight to Aintree now.
“We tend to run a horse in the Bobbyjo and then go to the National. Timing wise, it suits.”
Reacting to Vanillier’s defeat, jockey Sean Flanagan said: “I’m very happy.
“I think he’s run better in the race this year than he did [when a half-length second to Kemboy] last year - there were a lot higher-quality horses in the race this year.”
Jockey Ben Godfrey enjoyed the biggest success of his career as Forward Plan took the Coral Trophy at Kempton Park.
The front-running Al Dancer looked to have beaten off the competition but could not resist the final thrust of 15-2 shot Forward Plan, who scored by a length and a quarter.
“To have him to go to war with him is what you do it for and why you get out of bed in the morning,” said Godfrey.
Kalif Du Berlais held off Givemefive, partowned by golfers Graeme Mcdowell and Brooks Koepka, in the Grade 2 Coral Adonis Hurdle but is unlikely to run at the Cheltenham Festival according to trainer Paul Nicholls.
Senor Buscador and jockey Junior Alvarado hit the front in the final stride to land the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup, in Riyadh.