For Maxwell, the Grand National holds a special place among enthusiasts. However, despite being considered a traditional amateur, his family has already achieved great heights in this regard.
The 1988 Grand National, won by Rhyme' N' Reason, stands out as a particularly memorable race. It is widely known for the heart-stopping moment when the horse nearly stumbled at Becher's Brook during the first circuit. However, with remarkable determination, jockey Brendan Powell managed to guide Rhyme 'N' Reason back into the race, making a stunning comeback.
It was a day filled with emotions and stress for the Maxwell family, as the property developer shared: "One of my most vivid memories of the Grand National is Rhyme 'N' Reason." My mother raised the horse while my dad prepared him for his initial victories in the early races before he was sent to England to receive training from David Murray Smith and later David Elsworth.
I have vivid recollections of that moment as if it occurred just recently. In the final moments, Durham Edition managed to overtake him, but he was quite the mischievous character. Once he took the lead, he seemed satisfied with his performance. Rhyme 'N' Reason, on the other hand, displayed remarkable determination and triumphed by a significant margin of four lengths.
The entire Maxwell family were shouting; my mother was heavily pregnant with my now 35-year-old sister.
Maxwell has had a taste of success over the renowned obstacles before, and although it wasn't in the National, his impressive second-place finish on Cat Tiger in the 2022 Foxhunters should provide him with a boost of confidence as he prepares to begin.