10th-Apr-2023

I am now also backing I Am Maximus.

He can jump to his left, which is not ideal, but you can be sure that Paul Townend will have a plan to minimise that effect, and it is significant that he has chosen to ride him in front of Tenzing and Dolcita.

I Am Maximus hasn’t won yet over fences, but he is a classy individual.  He finished fourth in the Ballymore Hurdle at Cheltenham on his final run for Nicky Henderson, and two of his four runs over fences for Willie Mullins have been in Grade 1 races.

He ran well at the Cheltenham Festival last month to finish fourth behind The Real Whacker and Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory Chase, when he stayed on strongly, shaping like a horse who would appreciate going out in trip.  He was only just beaten by Minella Crooner in a beginners’ chase on his only run to date at Fairyhouse, despite jumping to his left, and a handicap mark of 149 is fair.  It is also significant that he has been acquired by JP McManus since Cheltenham.

I AM MAXIMUS WON (ADV 12/1, SP 8/1)