Movie aficionados would of course have known this instantly, but, this corner only learned this evening that I Am Maximus is a reference to Russell Crowe’s character in Gladiator. So it was probably only appropriate that the greatest gladiator there is in terms of racehorse ownership, JP McManus, not only bought the horse in the run up to today’s Boylesports Irish Grand National, but that the horse duly went and won the race.
The steed’s former owner Claudio Grech is an interesting character. In that he was once in a partnership which was dissolved, then, having decided to keep going under his own steam, he has been known to move horses around between three trainers in particular. Joseph O’Brien, Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins. Now, owners moving horses around between trainers is nothing new, but, for an owner of Grech’s status to sell a horse in the days before a race like the National was a surprise.
On the flipside of that though, it’s another example of the nous which makes JP so good at what he does. In the instance, that the plan came together this evening was down to the most masterful ride this writer has ever seen Paul Townend give a horse.
You see, I Am Maximus is preferential to – if not dependent on – left handed tracks. Well, we now know definitively he’s not dependent on them. But the propensity to lunge left meant that Townend’s only hope of getting a scenario to suit his mount was to drop him into the pack and keep him well covered up.
All fine in theory, but trying to pick your way through a 30 runner field takes major cajones and a serious slice of luck. Whatever about the latter, Townend displayed heaps of the former.
Picking a route through the throng in a timely fashion so as to produce his mount with optimum timing. And, as luck would have it, getting the 8/1 shot out to the wide left of the home straight.
With momentum behind him, JP’s new recruit rattled home and just nailed this punter’s pick, Gevrey, on the line. Still, when JP gets an instant return on his investment, my better half backs the winner and I get 40/1 about Gevrey early doors, a good days work all round!