In the movie Gladiator, Russell Crowe plays Maximus Decimus Meridius: an individual who, no spoilers, turns out to be a rather handy warrior.

His namesake, the racehorse I Am Maximus, showed similar battling qualities to win the Grand National in April; by far and away the best day of his career, not least due to the $660,000 prize he landed for his connections.

The eight-year-old looks set to head back to the colosseum of racing that is Aintree in 2025, with the aim of successfully defending his Grand National title.

If he does, I Am Maximus will become only the fourth racehorse of the past century to win back-to-back editions of the marathon steeplechase… joining a very elite group indeed.

Reynoldstown (1935 & 1936)

When a horse returns to Aintree to defend their Grand National title a year after their triumph, they are often well-supported by the bookmakers – even if their handicap weight has increased accordingly.

Those that bet on Grand National today will likely be met with this conundrum: is I Am Maximus value at ante post odds of 12/1 given that he will likely go up in weight for the race? Or would an unexposed sort like Corbett’s Cross (20/1) be a better option?

The Grand National 2025 tips columns will no doubt muse on that very subject, while remembering that only three horses in 100 years have won the race in successive seasons.

The first to do so, post World War I, was Reynoldstown, who provides handy evidence of the challenges facing reigning Grand National champions.

He went off in the 1935 edition carrying 11st 4lb, won the race by just three lengths, and returned to Aintree a year later having halved in odds but upped in the weights to 12st 2lb.

Reynoldstown also achieved the unlikely feat of winning the Grand National twice with different jockeys on board: Frank Furlong, architect of the 1935 triumph, displaced by Fulke Walwyn a year later.

Red Rum (1973 & 1974)

At the time of writing, Red Rum is the only three-time winner in the history of the Grand National: the iconic stayer adding the 1977 title to his consecutive triumphs of 1973 and 1974.

It’s a remarkable achievement that looked incredibly unlikely with a fence to jump in that 1973 renewal. Red Rum was a whopping 15 lengths behind the leader, Crisp, but produced a powerhouse display of staying on to haul in his rival with just two strides to spare.

For that victory, Red Rum went up the weights to the staggering tune of 23 pounds in 1974, but he showcased the phenomenal resolve he was renowned for in overcoming future Grand National champion, Escargot, in another masterful display at Aintree.

Tiger Roll (2018 & 2019)

Standing 15.2 hands high, Tiger Roll was extraordinarily small for a chaser.

But what he lacked in size he more than made up for in fight, winning lengthy cross-country chases at the Cheltenham Festival to go with his exploits in the Grand National.

Blessed with remarkable stamina, Tiger Roll also boasted an incredible leap for a horse of his stature, and it was quite the sight to see him outlast much bigger animals on his way to the 2018 Grand National trophy.

Because of his lack of height, the handicapper couldn’t add too much weight to him the following year, so Tiger Roll had a penalty of just 6lb to overcome.

And he did so with consummate ease, shaving 39 seconds off his winning time from a year earlier to romp home by three lengths.

Defending champions in the Grand National are rather thin on the ground, but if I Am Maximus showcases the same gladiatorial spirit as his namesake, he could yet add his name to the small but perfectly-formed list.