Greenwood outlines extent of Maximus National mission Handicapper Martin Greenwood concedes I Am Maximus will have to produce a record-setting performance if he is to defend his Randox Grand National title. Greenwood, who is the British Horseracing Authority’s chase handicapper for races staged over two miles and seven furlongs or further, has last year’s winner I Am Maximus topping the weights, albeit off a slightly lower mark than he started the season, but still on a perch that will take some defying. “I Am Maximus was 169 when he crossed the line last year and I’ve got him on 167,” said Greenwood. “Delta Work (second) has come back down to 157 and Minella Indo (third) and Galvin (fourth) have come down a bit too as they were fighting out the places. “If I Am Maximus does manage to win, it will break all sorts of records – highest mark, top weight, etc. It’s 12-1 the field, so I’m quite happy at the minute. “Last year’s winner I Am Maximus is on an 8lb higher mark this time around. In 2024, he won off the same mark that Tiger Roll won his second National off in 2019 – 1lb off the rating of 2015 winner Many Clouds, which was 160. Many Clouds ran off 166 the following year and I Am Maximus is 1lb higher than that on 167. “So, if he is successful again, he will make history by winning off the highest mark seen in the 21st century.” Greenwood rates the possible squad from Gavin Cromwell’s County Meath yard highly, with the likes of previous second Vanillier, Inothewayurthinkin and Stumptown among his team. He said: “I think Gavin Cromwell has a strong hand this year, Stumptown was impressive at Cheltenham, Vanillier came back to form recently, as has Perceval Legallois. “There are 41 entries rated 150 or more, which is the most to be rated 150-plus at the weights stage since 2020, so the race stands up well this year in terms of quality. “I think on both sides of the Irish Sea, trainers are more willing to run their younger horses, as recent history suggests you are better off running when still unexposed, like Minella Times for instance, and I Am Maximus. “If you followed the old-fashioned route to Aintree, you are probably too late. That is possibly down to the alterations. “You then get the likes of Bravemansgame, L’Homme Presse, Envoi Allen and Hewick, who are very capable of running well in level-weights races. I think that is the appeal of the National. It’s a high-quality handicap. “At this stage last year, I was thinking you would need a rating of 144 to 145 to get a run, but in the end the lowest-rated horse on the day was 146, so my estimate was slightly under. “The 55th horse on the list got into the race last year, so my estimate this year is that you want to be rated from 145 to 147 to make the line-up in 2025. “There are no penalties in the Randox Grand National but a win or good run can help you to get a place in the line-up by taking you to the top of the horses rated on the same weight. “There are still a few horses that need to fulfil the qualification criteria but I’d say it’s fewer than in the past – I make it 13 in total.”
