Patrick Mullins hoping to repeat fairytale National success

The Mullins team have assembled a bigger squad than ever as they look to keep the Randox Grand National trophy in the Closutton yard for another year.

Last season Nick Rockett prevailed for the father and son duo of Willie and Patrick, the realisation of a lifelong dream for the latter and a third win in the race for the former.

Nick Rockett has been allocated 11st 11lb to carry around the marathon Aintree trip, with Mullins keen to take the ride again once the horse emerges from a slightly interrupted preparation.

He said: “Without a doubt I’d love to ride Nick Rockett again. We’ve got a good team of jockeys and I don’t think there will be any shortage of volunteers to ride our horses!”

“We have no complaints with his weight. We haven’t had a clear run with him and he had an over-reach before the John Durkan. He then had a setback just before Christmas, so we’re behind where we want to be.

“He’s back riding and we’re hoping to get a run into him before Aintree, so we’re hoping to find a race for him somewhere. We’ve no plan for him yet, but we should get him there, all being well.”

There are 13 further Mullins-trained horses holding entries, with nine joining Nick Rockett in being guaranteed to make the cut for the final field of 34.

I Am Maximus is among them, winner of the race in 2024 and a gallant runner-up last term under Paul Townend.

He carried a top weight of 11st 12lb last year and this year will shoulder the same allocation.

“He ran a blinder last year off top-weight, but he missed his third run that year and maybe that told in the final furlong or so,” said Mullins.

“It looks this year like we may be able to get a third run into him, which I think will be a big help, and I think the key thing for him may be slower ground. I think the year he won it was a good bit slower than last year, so that seems to help him jump. I definitely couldn’t rule him out.

“He’s not the most fantastic jumper, so the fences seem to bring something out of him. He’s a bit like Tiger Roll in that he seems to enjoy the fences. Last year he didn’t jump as well as he did the first year and I think the ground is the key to him jumping well enough.”

Grangeclare West was third in last year’s renewal when only beaten three lengths in a Closutton 1-2-3, and Mullins jnr feels he has a real chance again under 11st 10lb.

He said: “It was funny because he looked beaten before the last and then he made that mistake and then ran on really well at the end.

“Perhaps I Am Maximus was tying up and Nick Rockett was idling, but I think he has to have a shout. He’s well able to carry the weight and he has to have another huge chance of going two better.”

Spanish Harlem, who will carry 11st 3lbs, is owned by Dr Peter FitzGerald of sponsors Randox Health and despite a tricky season so far he is trusted to take to the task.

Mullins said: “They are the most important owners in the race as sponsors! That horse has been trained to get there. He was very disappointing for a long time, but extreme distances over fences has brought out the best in him.

“The profile is right in my book and I don’t see why he won’t take to the fences, he’s got plenty of experience and jumps well. I know he can throw in the odd clanger, but sometimes those horses can just have a little bit more respect for a new type of fence.”