The Mullins family celebrated a remarkable triumph at the Grand National. Amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, riding Nick Rockett, secured a thrilling victory at odds of 33-1 in front of approximately 70,000 spectators at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday. The horse was expertly trained by his father, Willie Mullins, who achieved an extraordinary 1-2-3 finish in this challenging steeplechase event. I Am Maximus, at odds of 7-1, placed second just 2 1/2 lengths behind, followed closely by Grangeclare West at 33-1. Both horses were also under Mullins’ training.
Willie Mullins expressed immense emotion and joy after the triumphant race, overwhelmed by the experience of seeing his son win the prestigious event. He likened the moment to “something out of a Disney film.” “Having the opportunity for your son to compete in the National is one thing,” he said, “but winning it is simply unbelievable.”
Patrick Mullins described the victory as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “It’s something I’ve fantasized about since childhood,” he commented. He reminisced about reading books and watching historic footage of the Grand National as a young child, inspired by legendary horses like the three-time champion Red Rum.
The Mullins family has a notable history with the Grand National. Patrick’s cousin, David, rode Rule The World to victory in 2016 at just 19 years old, and another cousin, Emmet, trained the 2022 winner, Noble Yeats. Mullins’ success extended to Saturday’s race with another of his horses, Meetingofthewaters, finishing fifth.
Despite juggling multiple entries, Willie Mullins stayed focused on his son’s performance. “I couldn’t track them all, so I concentrated on the most important one—my son’s ride,” he shared enthusiastically. “Patrick maintained a steady course and remained as cool as ice.”
Nick Rockett’s victory was particularly poignant for owner Stewart Andrew. The horse was initially owned by his late wife, Sadie, who passed away from cancer in December 2022 shortly after the horse’s first jump race. “She’s with us in spirit,” Andrew said, emotionally lifting Patrick Mullins on his shoulders following the race.
The Grand National, known for its high fence jumps and deemed one of the world’s most dangerous horse races, implemented new safety measures last year. Saturday’s 177th edition witnessed 34 entrants competing over 30 fences, with 16 horses successfully completing the race. Two horses, Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen, did not finish and were undergoing evaluations.