A significant £100,000 bet placed on I Am Maximus to win the Randox Grand National has been confirmed as a genuine transaction rather than a publicity stunt, according to the bookmaker who accepted the wager. Paul Byrne, owner of Fitzwilliam Sports, revealed that his firm took the substantial stake on the Willie Mullins-trained, JP McManus-owned horse at odds of 8-1, with the horse ultimately triumphing as the heavily-backed 9-2 victor.
Record-Breaking Bet for Fitzwilliam Sports
Johnny Dineen, a prominent pundit fronting the Fitzwilliam pitch at Aintree, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the transaction. He told the Press Association that this £100,000 wager at 8-1 represented the largest bet ever taken by the firm, significantly surpassing previous records. Dineen noted the necessity to trade off some of the liability in the betting ring to manage the substantial risk associated with such a high-stakes wager.
Efforts to Manage the Betting Liability
Mr Byrne, who also owns the Irish Grand National winner Solider In Milan, confirmed that his team successfully managed to trade away a portion of their exposure before the race commenced. Speaking on Racing TV's Luck On Sunday programme, Byrne elaborated on the strategic approach taken to handle the bet. He explained that with approximately three hours remaining before the Grand National start, there were opportunities on betting exchanges to offset the risk at more favourable prices.
Byrne stated, "It was a real bet. Someone wanted to back the horse – 8-1 was freely available, there was 9-1 in places and I thought it was an opportunity to get the bet away." He further detailed the frantic efforts as the race approached, describing how the market dynamics shifted unexpectedly. "So it was panic stations come the end just to get rid of the money and I think that was most likely the reason for the SP," he added, referring to the starting price.
Market Reactions and Final Outcome
The bookmaker expressed surprise at the weakening market conditions for such a high-profile race, suggesting that any delay to the start could have resulted in even shorter odds for I Am Maximus. Byrne noted that when the bet was initially accepted, odds exceeding 10-1 were available on exchanges for limited amounts. Despite having multiple avenues to trade the bet, the final moments before the race became a scramble, leaving the firm uncertain whether to hope for a win or loss.
Byrne emphasised that the situation was not the romanticised narrative of a bookmaker facing an £800,000 loss. "That was never the idea, it was to get the bet away," he clarified, though he acknowledged the business benefits of handling such a notable wager. I Am Maximus, ridden by jockey Paul Townend, secured victory in the 2026 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, emulating the legendary Red Rum by reclaiming his Aintree crown.
