Amateur rider Patrick Mullins enjoyed his finest hour as he guided
to victory for his father
in the Randox
at
.
The Closutton handler had assembled a crack team for the
marathon and as the runners entered the business end, his contenders were dominating the head of proceedings, with I Am Maximus looking in the ideal position to defend his title in the hands of Paul Townend.
However, the burden of top-weight proved too much in the closing stages, as Nick Rockett (33-1) finished full of running, leading home a one-two-three for the champion trainer, who was registering not only back-to-back victories but his third success 20 years after his first with Hedgehunter. For good measure, Mullins also had the fifth-placed horse in Meetingofthewaters.
Iroko was fourth for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.