Punters celebrate I Am Maximus' Grand National win - Willie Mullins odds-on to be Champion Trainer

The mount of Paul Townend knocked last year’s winner Corach Rambler off the top spot in the betting first thing this morning, after being extremely well-backed from the get-go.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Punters enjoyed a spectacularly exciting Grand National this year, but it is I Am Maximus who is the toast of the nation after living up to his favourite tag and winning the Grand National. The mount of Paul Townend was incredibly popular in shops and online, going off clear favourite to win the race in brilliant fashion.”

Read a recap of today's Grand National and watch a replay of the finish here on our website.

Victory in the Grand National saw Willie Mullins add a further £500k to his prize money kitty for the season. Before the Grand National meeting, Willie Mullins sat third behind Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls in the Champion Trainer standings. Now, the Irishman is £100k ahead of the two, and Ladbrokes have cut Willie into odds-on to claim Champion Trainer glory.

“This year’s trainers title race is giving the Premier League race a run for its money." McGeady said. "In what has turned into a very exciting three horse race, Willie Mullins’ Grand National victory has put him firmly in front of his rivals."

Mullins has always saved his big guns for the Punchestown Festival at the end of the season. Now, with a first British Champion Trainer title within his grasp, expect plenty of Willie's runners to feature in the entries for next weekend's Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr, and Sandown's season-ending meeting at the end of the month.