Aintree punter’s £100,000 Grand National bet pays Maximus dividends
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 11 Apr 2026
When one punter showed complete confidence in I Am Maximus by placing a bet of £100,000 with an on-course bookmaker about him winning the Randox Grand National for a second time, perhaps the writing was on the wall for his Aintree rivals.
Owned by JP McManus, I Am Maximus was the winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase in 2024 and second 12 months ago, and was bidding to emulate Red Rum in regaining his Liverpool crown. He duly did, powering home as the 9-2 favourite in the hands of Paul Townend.
Well-known pundit and personality Johnny Dineen was fronting the Fitzwilliam pitch that took the bet and told the Press Association: “It’s the biggest bet we’ve ever taken, £100,000 at 8-1.
Johnny Dineen laid a £100,000 bet (Nick Robson/PA)
“It’s our biggest bet by a mile and we’ll have to try to trade some of it off in the ring.
“It goes without saying it would be a bad result for us!”
I Am Maximus was one of six runners for McManus – who admitted he had a “little bit on” – in the race and as well as the winner he had the second in Iroko and fourth in Johnnywho.
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