Grand National fans convinced they've found winner of 'biggest ever' £100,000 bet

Grand National fans convinced they've found winner of 'biggest ever' £100,000 betRacing fans have turned detective to find the winner of the extraordinary £100,000 stake at the Grand NationalSportBenjamin Lynch News Reporter18:57, 11 Apr 2026Updated 19:02, 11 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesThe winning team: Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and JP McManus(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Fans of horse racing are convinced they know who is behind a £100,000 punt on I Am Maximus ahead of its victory at the Grand National today.‌Bookmaker Johnny Dineen revealed on ITV that someone had put down £100,000 on I Am Maximus at 8-1. The horse won the National in 2024 and finished as runner-up in last year's race.‌However, this year, the Willie Mullins-trained horse won the punter an incredible £800,000 profit by claiming victory, with Paul Townend riding the horse to victory.‌Speaking on ITV prior to the race, Dineen admitted it was the biggest bet he has ever laid. He said: "We’ve laid a whopping bet on I Am Maximus, and it’s the biggest bet we’ve ever laid by a mile."It left betting ring presenter Brian Gleeson shocked, and he replied: "Oh my God."View 2 ImagesJockey Paul Townend celebrates winning the Grand National on I Am Maximus(Image: Liverpool Echo)‌READ MORE: Grand National results LIVE: Full finishers as I Am Maximus wins at Aintree but jockey hospitalisedREAD MORE: Grand National jockey banned for not pulling up tired horse before last fence fallSome racing fans think the extraordinary bet was put on the JP McManus-owned horse by the owner himself.“Hearing it was JP McManus that put it on. They made it out like an ordinary raceday goer put it on," one person wrote on X.Another said: “Spare change for JP McManus. He’d probably of had 10x that on, if someone would take the bet.”‌Asked if he had bet on the winner, McManus said he "had a little on" I Am Maximus.If correct, the bet could mean that McManus took home over £1 million in j...