Willie Mullins is well-known for his calm demeanor, often treating the highs and lows of horse racing with the same composed shrug and measured words. But at Aintree, during the 177th Grand National, the usually stoic Irish trainer let the emotions pour out after witnessing his son, Patrick Mullins, guide Nick Rockett a 33-1 outsider to a stunning victory.
The win wasn’t just a professional triumph; it was deeply personal. As Patrick crossed the finish line in the iconic black and tangerine silks, the cameras captured Willie in the stands. His cheeks puffed with emotion, his eyes glistening, and eventually, the tears flowed freely. By the time he reached the finish line to embrace his son, his handkerchief was already drenched. It was a rare public display of emotion from a man renowned for his composure.
“To be able to let your son ride in the National is special,” Willie managed to say, voice choked with emotion. “But to see him win it that’s just unbelievable.”
There was another poignant layer to this fairy-tale win. The horse, Nick Rockett, had originally been owned by Sadie Andrew, the late wife of current owner Stewart Andrew. Sadie had always dreamed of owning a horse trained by Willie Mullins. That wish came true, but heartbreakingly, she passed away from cancer in December 2022, shortly after Nick Rockett’s debut over jumps.
Sadie and Willie had a personal connection that stretched back to their youth, having gone to school together. When she became ill, Willie ensured that the horse ran so she could see him in action, even though he wasn’t fully ready. Later, over a bottle of wine in Australia, Mullins laid out an ambitious plan: win the Thyestes Chase, then the Bobbyjo Chase, and finally the Grand National. That vision became reality on a glorious spring day at Aintree.
This year’s Grand National also reflected how the race has evolved. Changes made in 2013, replacing the solid wooden cores of the fences with more forgiving plastic and topping them with loose spruce, have made the course safer while still challenging. Nick Rockett, one of the smallest horses in the field, benefited from this design but more so from the impeccable ride he was given.
Patrick Mullins, though technically an amateur, rode with the poise and skill of a seasoned professional. He admitted he had “too good a start” and had to hold the horse back early on, but praised Nick Rockett’s bravery and flawless jumping. “He’s not very big, but he’s brave as a lion,” Patrick said. “He just jumped fantastic.”
For Patrick, this win held a special place. “When I was five or six, I was reading books about the Grand National. To have my name among the winners is incredibly special.”
Reflecting on the day, he couldn’t hide his pride in making history alongside his father. “It was lovely to see my dad, because he’s not very emotional,” Patrick added, his smile as bright as the April sun. It was a moment of shared triumph, love, and legacy a father and son united in victory, delivering one of the most heartfelt Grand National stories in recent memory.
