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Nick Rockett led home an extraordinary one-two-three for trainer Willie Mullins at 33-1 in Saturday’s Grand National. Ridden by the trainer’s son, Patrick, Nick Rockett beats last year’s winner I Am Maximus with Grangeclare West third.
The winning horse is still registered in the ownership of Stewart and Sadie Andrew, and though Sadie died of cancer in December 2022, she had been the one who wanted a horse in training with Willie Mullins as they were from the same part of Ireland.
The victorious rider said afterwards: “I had too good a start and was having to take him back all the way. I was wondering at Canal Turn had I lost too much ground, but he just jumped fantastic.
“Then I was there too soon and it is a long way from the back of the last with Paul Townend [on I Am Maximus] on my outside.
“It’s everything I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, I know it’s a cliche but when I was five or six years old, reading books about the National and watching black and white videos of Red Rum. To put my name there is very special.”
Patrick Mullins is the latest in the family to have won the race, with his cousins David and Emmet having won the race, the first-named as a jockey with Rule The World and the second as a trainer with Noble Yeats.
He added: “David and Emmet have already won it so I’m level with them, so [cousin] Danny will have to pull his finger out now.”
Nick Rockett was dismounted after the line and the winning rider added: “The horse is fine and I wouldn’t mind going for a cold bath now myself. He’s just a brilliant horse. He’d be one of the smallest in the field but he’s as brave as a lion.”
Willie Mullins was notably emotional and added: “That was some result. It’s lovely to be able to give your son a ride in the National, but to win it, it’s unbelievable.”
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An emotional Willie Mullins was in tears afterwards but managed to state: “It’s lovely to give your son a winning ride in the National.”
