I Am Maximus back in Bobbyjo action at Fairyhouse

I Am Maximus leads a strong Willie Mullins team for the Follow @ToteRacing On Twitter Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, as he tunes up for the defence of his Grand National crown in the race he claimed emphatically 12 months ago en route to Aintree glory.

The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old romped to a 14-length victory in this Grade Three event before going on to win equally impressively in Liverpool, although he has failed to show the same zest in two starts this far this term.

Paul Townend has stayed loyal to his National hero, but Mullins – who has won eight of the last nine editions of the Bobbyjo – sees stablemate and Thyestes winner Nick Rockett as potentially the best placed from his quartet of runners, with Minella Cocooner and Capodanno the others from Closutton who also have Aintree on their agendas.

“Nick Rockett would look the one at the weights,” said Mullins.

“It was tough for Paul to have to make the decision, but he won the National on I Am Maximus and it would be very hard to get off him at a track that he likes and runs well on.

“Nick Rockett would look to be nicely placed in this race.

“I was very pleased with Capodanno’s recent work and we also have Minella Cocooner. They all have their chance, but on paper you’d have to think that Nick Rockett looks the part. But I Am Maximus loves the track and reserves some of his best runs for around there.”

In 2024 I Am Maximus replicated Bobbyjo, the horse this race is named after, and followed up victory in the Irish Grand National the previous year with a win in the English equivalent.

Thomas Gibney’s Intense Raffles is now bidding to follow suit having claimed last year’s Easter showpiece and he returns to fences for the first time since that Fairyhouse victory having been kept to hurdles in the early part of this season.

Elsewhere in the line-up, Noel Meade runs Affordale Fury, Mouse Morris fields French Dynamite, while William Murphy’s Clonmeen completes the eight taking part in a race with a fine roll of honour.