Grand National punter wins ‘biggest bet ever’ after £100,...

Grand National punter wins ‘biggest bet ever’ after £100,000 gamble at Aintree

Chris Davie Published April 11, 2026 5:35pm Updated April 11, 2026 5:38pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments

Jockey by Paul Townend celebrates on I Am Maximus after winning the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase on Grand National Day of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026 at Aintree Racecourse. Picture date: Saturday April 11, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Paul Townend celebrates on I Am Maximus after winning the Grand National (PA Wire)

A racegoer at Aintree won ‘the biggest bet ever’ on the Grand National after placing a £100,000 bet on I Am Maximus to win.

Irish bookmaker Johnny Dineen revealed during ITV’s coverage on Saturday that a punter was in line to win £800,000 after betting on I Am Maximus at 8-1.

‘We’ve laid a whopping bet on I Am Maximus, and it’s the biggest bet we’ve ever laid by a mile,’ Dineen told ITV’s Brian Gleeson, who replied, ‘oh my god, that’s what you call a proper bet’.

Dineen added: ”We’ll have to do a bit of trading with it later on, we don’t intend to stand up for £800,000. We’ll have to give some money around the [betting] ring at different stages, we don’t intend to go into liquidation.

‘It would be a bad loser for us, for sure.’

Someone has just placed ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND pounds on I Am Maximus to win the Grand National 😳#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/uTRn1OnFUF
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 11, 2026

I Am Maximus then went on to win the Grand National for a second time, becoming the first horse to achieve that feat since Red Rum 49 years ago.

Speaking after I Am Maximus’ win, trainer Willie Mullins said: ‘It was really special. People from the outside looking at it may not realise how cool Paul Townend was.

Grand National 2026 results

I Am Maximus – 9/1 fav
Firefox – 40/1
Iroko – 18/1
Jordans – 28/1
Johnnywho – 12/1
High Class Hero – 66/1
Favori De Champdou – 40/1
Final Orders – 22/1
Champ Kiely – 25/1
Three Card Brag – 50/1
Monty’s Star – 14/1
Answer To Kayf – 100/1
Gorgeous Tom – 20/1
Imperial Saint – 50/1
Haiti Couleurs – 28/1
Twig – 40/1

‘Most guys would have teared after Jordans but Paul just sat there, came round the bend and you could see the clock in his head turning. Sure enough, as they came the second last and came to the elbow, he could sense he was coming back to him and then he just applied the accelerator and he was away.

‘I have always known he is such a good horse and I have always had such good faith in him and I wanted to go down the Gold Cup route this year because he has won a Grand National but JP [McManus] was insistent, this horse loves Aintree. His good judgement has proved correct.’

I Am Maximus is the first horse since Red Rum 49 years ago to win the Grand National twice (Getty)

Winning jockey Paul Townend told ITV Racing: ‘He’s tough. I think the cheekpieces helped in the middle of the race.

‘When they jumped off, I got into a good rhythm but I wasn’t going to be the one chasing the ones in front.

‘He’s a really, really good horse and although Grangeclare West and Nick Rockett looked good in training, this lad wasn’t telling me not to ride him.

‘He is so good and has such an engine. He will gallop to the end of the world for you. I am really privileged. What a horse.

‘Grand Nationals and Gold Cups are the pinnacle of the sport and I have them both.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Arrow MORE: Grand National horse Get On George dies moments after pulling up with fatal injury

Arrow MORE: Grand National prize money 2026: How much does the winner get?

Arrow MORE: Grand National 2026 RESULT: I Am Maximus storms to historic win at Aintree

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source Football Newsletter – In The Mixer

Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro's football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.

Team Expand Options ? Select All Select All Arsenal Arsenal Aston Villa Aston Villa Bournemouth Bournemouth Brighton Brighton Burnley Burnley Chelsea Chelsea Crystal Palace Crystal Palace Everton Everton Fulham Fulham Leeds United Leeds United Liverpool Liverpool Manchester City Manchester City Manchester United Manchester United Newcastle Newcastle Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest Sunderland Sunderland Tottenham Tottenham West Ham West Ham Wolves Wolves Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign Up

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy