I Am Maximus justified his Irish Grand National success with victory in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Jody McGarvey.
The gelding shed his maiden tag over fences with a gutsy display in the Irish Grand National in April, and was able to make his seasonal reappearance as a novice. Although I Am Maximus was generally unwanted in the betting at 11/1, the seven-year-old appeared to relish the return to the scene of his National victory, beating Found A Fifty and favourite Letsbeclearaboutit it.
It appeared to be Letsbeclearaboutit's race to lose as Gavin Cromwell's charge fired into the second-last fence in the lead. Found A Fifty and I Am Maximus began to make ground between fences and overtook Letsbeclearaboutit as they reached the last. With Found A Fifty reaching for the fence and making an error, I Am Maximus was able to grab the initiative up the run-in and stayed on well for victory.
"That's a nice bonus on his last day as a novice," said Mullins.
"He's a total character, as you could see from his early days racing. Paul (Townend) gave him a great ride in the Irish National and Jody gets on well with him and gave him a super ride there.
"He looks a class horse now rather than a handicapper, so maybe we'll have to make different plans for him now.
"We were hoping he'd have a chance over the trip and the fact that it was his last day as a novice to give him the opportunity. He's clearly improved from last year and obviously shows a liking for Fairyhouse.
"He has a funny action when you look at him head on and I'd imagine softer ground is to his liking.
"I thought he was beaten turning for home and to produce what he did up the straight was very good.
"This year, we were maybe looking at going for the English National and whether we change and go for Grade One races now, I'm not sure. We'll have to have a word with Frank (Berry, racing manager) and JP (McManus, owner) and see what they want to do."
I Am Maximus has been shortened to 12/1 from 33/1 for Leopardstown's Savills Chase.
