Weekend Review: I Am Maximus triumphs in the Grand National while Arsenal and Liverpool slip up 

The well-backed I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins, put on an impressive display on Saturday to land a particularly competitive Grand National and give jockey Paul Townend his first win in British racing’s most high-profile race.

The JP McManus-owned 7/1 joint-favourite at the off travelled in midfield throughout before moving into fourth after the final fence and pulling clear at the elbow, crossing the line more than seven lengths clear or Delta Work (28/1), who was followed home by 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo (28/1) and Galvin (40/1).

Limerick Lace, who is also owned by McManus, had been heavily supported in the run up to the big race after he revealed on ITV Racing on Thursday that he’d backed the mare. Despite going off a joint favourite, she was badly hampered at the Canal Turn on the first circuit and could only finish 10^th.

Previous winners don’t have the best of records in the race, and Corach Rambler did little to reverse this trend after the 15/2-shot unseated jockey Derek Fox at the first obstacle.

This year’s Grand National was also the first year of new improvements and safety measures, including reducing the field from 40 to 34 runners, shortening the distance to the first fence, and having a standing start.

While purists may question whether the four-mile, two-furlong steeplechase is the same test as it was 20 years ago, there were no fallers and no injured horses this year, while the climax of the race saw plenty of runners and riders in contention. Of the 32 who set off, 11 either pulled up or unseated their jockeys.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “Given that we were seven places each way from lunchtime on Thursday, and that joint-favourite I Am Maximus powered clear late in the piece, we just about kept our heads above water in Saturday’s Randox Grand National. 

“Incredibly, there were about 15 horses or more bang there at the last, something I’ve never seen in the great race before, but if that’s what the latest raft of improvements and safety measures have made possible, then I’m delighted. In all, 21 of the 32 who set out finished, with the others being unseated or pulled up. Well played to everyone involved.”

Meanwhile, Kindred Group’s Ali Gill commented: “The new-look Grand National went as well as could have been hoped for in terms of the spectacle, with the reduced field seeing no fallers and the highest number of finishers in a long time.

“I Am Maximus was well supported, going off 7/1 joint-favourite, and was an impressive winner in the end. There were some big prices in behind, but mainly good horses with a lot of back class who weren’t completely ignored, and all told, the race went to the punters this year in what was a tough Aintree Festival across the board.”

Betway’s Michael Reading added: “At Aintree, the race that captures the nation was, as ever, not short of drama with long-time market leader – and last year’s winner – Corach Rambler falling at the first fence.

“The excitement built all throughout the race and coming down to the last there were at least seven in with winnable chances, but it was the joint-favourite I Am Maximus who spirited clear at the elbow to take the spoils for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. It wasn’t the best result for us; but it certainly wasn’t the worst, so we’ll live to fight another day.”

Bet365’s Steve Freeth did reveal there were some glimmers of positivity for the online giant despite I Am Maximus’ victory.

He said: “I Am Maximus was a hugely popular selection as you’d expect from the powerhouse double act of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend and it was a huge shame for us that Ain’t That A Shame sneaked into sixth. However, with Coko Beach and Nassalem both finishing out of the frame, we were able to get out of the race relatively unscathed with just a small loss on the Aintree showpiece.”

While the racing at Aintree went the way of the punters, the weekend’s footballing action swung the pendulum back in favour of the bookies.

While the expected happened on Saturday, with Manchester City (1/10) thrashing Luton Town (25/1) 5-1 at the Etihad, it was the Citizens’ fellow title challengers who faltered on Sunday.

Crystal Palace (10/1) continue to be Liverpool’s (1/5) bogey team in title-chasing seasons, as the Eagles gave the Reds their first loss at Anfield in almost 18 months thanks to an early Eberechi Eze goal and nearly 80 minutes of heroic defending. 

Attention then turned to the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal (1/4) looked to capitalise on Liverpool’s loss, and Aston Villa (9/1), in turn, looked to take advantage of Tottenham (7/5) taking a 4-0 thrashing at St James’ Park against Newcastle United (17/10) on Saturday. 

The Gunners came out firing in the first half and were unlucky not to take the lead when Gabriel Jesus was found at the back post but the Brazilian couldn’t manage to direct his header on target. Leandro Trossard probably had the best chance of the first half when Jesus cut the ball cross, but Emiliano Martinez denied the Belgian. 

The second half was a different story, as the Gunners rode their luck at times. Youri Tielemans saw a rocket of a shot ping off the bar and post. Eventually, the deadlock was broken when a driven cross from John McGinn eluded everyone in the box and fell to Leon Bailey to smash Villa in front.  Ollie Watkins doubled the Villains’ lead as Arsenal pushed for an equaliser with a delightful chip over David Raya. 

Liverpool and Arsenal dropping points have left City top of the table with six games to go, with Firkins updating us on the latest title odds. He said: “Our latest Premier League outright prices show a huge swing in their favour – we now go 2/5 City, 4/1 Arsenal and 6/1 Liverpool.”

There was also dismay for punters in Scotland, as title-chasing Rangers (1/5) failed to gain ground on Celtic, going down 3-2 away at second-from-bottom Ross County (12/1). 

Bet365’s Freeth explained how the football helped pull the bookies out of the red for the weekend. He said: “We finished in the red in the Grand National and the Masters, but anything bet on the football went in the space of a few hours as we saw 1/5 Liverpool and 1/4 Arsenal falter. Throw in 2/11 Rangers, and you get a memorable Sunday for layers.”

It was a mixed bag in Europe as Bayer Leverkusen (1/5) secured the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history with a 5-0 victory at home to Werder Bremen (12/1). The Derby della Mole between Juventus and Torino ended in a stalemate in Italy, while Bologna (1/2) and Monza (6/1) also played out a goalless draw. 

La Liga was where punters had the most joy, with Real Madrid (3/4) winning away at Mallorca (4/1), Barcelona (21/20) edging Cadiz (13/5) and Atletico Madrid (17/20) defeating Girona (3/1) in the race for third spot.

Freeth added: “We had some highs and lows in Europe on Saturday. The highs were in Serie A, with the stalemate between Torino and Juventus and the same scoreline in Bologna, with the hosts drawing 0-0 with Monza.

“The lows were in La Liga with Real Madrid cementing their place at the top, Barcelona winning at Cadiz and Atletico Madrid closing the gap on Girona with a win from behind against the surprise packages.”

In golf, world number one Scottie Scheffler (4/1) won his second green jacket at the Masters at Augusta, finishing four shots ahead of Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg and England’s Tommy Fleetwood. 

On golf, Gill added: “With Scheffler arriving at the Master in imperious form, he was rightly the very clear favourite going into Augusta. Although almost unrivalled at the minute in terms of talent and form, punters perhaps thought his price slightly skinny in such an event and, with plenty of talented alternatives at bigger prices, looked elsewhere. 

“The end result was that we actually managed a great result across the event and finished ahead when all was said and done.”

Reading concluded: “In Augusta, it was the favourite backers turn for celebration as world number one Scottie Scheffler justified why he was the standout favourite for the US Masters by winning at a canter.

“It was the worst result possible for the books as the money just kept coming for him all week and we cut him right the way into 7/2 before play started. Attention now turns to next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, in Kentucky, where Scheffler is again the red-hot favourite at 9/2 to win back-to-back major titles.”