Willie Mullins will to let the dust settle before deciding if Nick Rockett will defend his Randox
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.”