How Many Back-to-Back Grand National Winners Have There Been? As I Am Maximus Bids To Become The Next

12 months ago, we saw the Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus land the biggest jumps race in the world and he’ll be back in 2025 to defend his Aintree crown. However, how many Grand National winners have there been over the years and does I Am Maximus have history on his side or not?

2024 Grand Winner I Am Maximus Bids To Become Only The Sixth ‘Back-to-Back’ Grand National Winner

Since the Grand National was first run in 1839 there have been only FIVE horses that have won the race in ‘back-to-back’ years (see below) – but that could be added to as the 2024 hero I AM MAXIMUS is back for more in 2025.

Last year, this the best horse racing betting sites in the UK feel he’s got a leading chance of following up.

I Am Maximus, however, will have to try and win the race rated 8lbs higher and with 6lbs more in actual racing weight after the handicapper has hiked him up the ratings.

He’s set to carry 11st 12lbs on Saturday 5th April on the pinnacle day of the Grand National prize money for a second time.

But, those looking elsewhere for the Grand National winner, will say the last horse to win with 11st 1olbs or more was Red Rum back in 1974, when he shouldered 12st to victory.

WATCH: I Am Maximus Winning The 2024 Grand National

Tiger Roll Was The First ‘Back-to-Back’ Grand National Winner Since Red Rum

Many recent winners of the Grand National – including Corach Rambler, Noble Yeats and Many Clouds – have tried to defend their Aintree titles, but since 1974 only one past winner has managed to achieve this – TIGER ROLL.

The five-time Cheltenham Festival winner landed his first National in 2018 and despite having to carry 6lbs more backed that success up the following year – winning again in 2019.

This Grand National double broke a 45-year spell with no ‘back-to-back’ winners in the Merseyside Marathon.

Tiger Roll’s two wins in 2018 and 2019 remain the last time we’ve seen these happen.

The 2022 winner Noble Yeats was fourth the following year. While the 2023 winner Corach Rambler unseated at the first fence in his title defence in 2024.

Jockey Davy Russell rode Tiger Roll to both his National wins and Tiger Roll was giving trainer Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud both their third success in the race.

Red Rum Won Three Grand Nationals Between 1973 and 1977 – Two On The Bounce

Prior to Tiger Roll, you have to go back to the 1970’s to find the next repeat Grand National winner in RED RUM.

‘Rummy’ is the most famous Grand National horse and the only one to win the race three times – winning his trio of Nationals between 1973 and 1977.

Two of these came on the spin in 1973 and 74 – and he added the third at the grand old age of 12 in 1977.

Red Rum was trained by Ginger McCain, the father of Donald, who went onto win the race in 2011 with Ballabriggs, and ridden by Brian Fletcher in his first two National wins and Tommy Stack in his final one.

Then, before Red Rum, it was Reynoldstown in 1935 and 1936 who was the double Grand National winner.

Then the only other back-to-back winners of the race have been Abd-El-Kader (1850 and 1851) and The Colonel (1869 and 1870).

WATCH: Red Rum Winning His First Of Three Grand Nationals In 1973

Every ‘Back-to-Back’ Grand National Winner

Three Other Horse Have Won The Grand National Twice (Just Not In ‘Back-to-Back’ Years)

In addition to the five ‘back-to-back’ Grand National winners the race has also seen three other double winners – just not in returning years.

Peter Simple won two Nationals over a five year period – the last of which was when he was aged 15 and the oldest ever winner of the race.

The Lamb is one of just three greys to win the National – his successes came in 1868 and 1871. The other two grey winners to date are Nicolaus Silver in 1961 and Neptunes Collonges in 2012.

We almost saw another grey winner in 2023 when the Gavin Cromwell-trained Vanillier was runner-up to Corach Rambler. He’s entered again in 2025.

While the final double winner was Manifesto in the late 1800’s – winning the race twice over three seasons with different jockeys and trainers both times.

2025 Aintree Grand National Race Details

📅Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV

You can see the full 2025 Aintree Grand National Festival race schedule, running order and TV channels.

Past Grand National Winners (Last 20 Runnings)