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Grand National: I Am Maximus set to start as favorite in famous British horse race

Gidleigh Park ridden by Bryan Carver in the EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (David Davies/PA via AP) Gracchus De Balme ridden by Huw Edwards on their way to winning the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) Gracchus De Balme ridden by Huw Edwards on their way to winning the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) Gidleigh Park ridden by Bryan Carver in the EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (David Davies/PA via AP) Gracchus De Balme ridden by Huw Edwards on their way to winning the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — One of the biggest events on Britain's sporting calendar takes place Saturday when the Grand National horse race is run at Aintree in northwest England. The pre-race favorite for the grueling steeplechase over 30 fences is set to be I Am Maximus, the winner of the 2024 edition who is looking to become just the second horse to win back-to-back Nationals since Red Rum in the 1970s. Advertisement I Am Maximus is handicapped by the top weight for the race as he looks to back up a victory by 7½ lengths last year. His owner is JP McManus, who is bidding for a record fourth win in the National. There will be 34 runners for the 177th running of the popular race over 4¼ miles (6.9 kilometers) that is often the subject of household and office sweepstakes and targeted by animal-rights activists. The Grand National has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous horse races in the world because of the size of the fences, though a number of new measures were introduced last year in an attempt to make it safer. The race is scheduled to start at 1500 GMT. ___ AP sports: