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Mullins to ponder options with his Grand National aces
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 9 Apr 2025
Ted Walsh, Ruby Walsh, Patrick Mullins and Willie Mullins with the Grand National trophy ahead of Nick Rockett’s homecoming parade in Leighlinbridge on Wednesday (INPHO)
Willie Mullins will to let the dust settle before deciding if Nick Rockett will defend his Randox Grand National crown next season.
Nick Rockett led home a remarkable one-two-three for the master of Closutton in the hands of amateur son Patrick Mullins, with defending champion I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West filling the podium spots.
Meetingofthewaters in fifth and Minella Cocooner (seventh) added to his dominance of the Aintree marathon, with all the participants given a clean bill of health following their Merseyside exertions.
However, Mullins will take the summer to decide on plans for his Aintree heroes, with the British and Irish champion trainer pondering his options.
“We’re very happy with how the horses have come out of the race and they are all in good shape,” said Mullins, ahead of Nick Rockett’s homecoming parade in Leighlinbridge.
“We’ll look at them all individually as they come back in next season – whether I Am Maximus does that again next season or goes for the Gold Cup, I’m unsure.
“I don’t know what the handicapper has done with Nick Rockett since the National, but he certainly could turn into a Grade One horse. He would have a lot of weight to carry again next year.”
Meanwhile, trainer Tom Gibney is in no rush to commit to future plans with Intense Raffles following his disappointing run in the National.
Last season’s Irish Grand National hero was ante-post favourite for the world’s most famous steeplechase a few weeks ago, having bounced back from two ordinary runs over hurdles with a fine effort to finish a close second to Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.
But while Nick Rockett claimed Grand National glory in the hands of record-breaking amateur Patrick Mullins, Intense Raffles was on the back foot from flag-fall and was eventually pulled up by J J Slevin after jumping 17 of the 30 fences.
“He’s come back OK, he’s fine,” said Gibney.
“It just went wrong from the start for me. He threw his head up at the tape actually and took a step back and was left at the start and that was it – game over.”
Intense Raffles again holds an entry in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday. When asked whether he could reappear at Fairyhouse on April 21, his trainer added: “I don’t know, we’ll see how he is. We’ll just get him going again at some point and see.”
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