The Grand National lived up to expectations in sensational fashion on Saturday afternoon, with Nick Rockett powering home under a strong drive from amateur jockey Patrick Mullins to land the spoils at odds of 33/1. The victory meant that it was another father and son duo to win the Aintree steeplechase, and Willie Mullins couldn’t hide how much it meant to him after the race.
Mullins trained five of the first seven home in a remarkable achievement to cap off what has been another remarkable trip to Aintree for the Irish trainer. There was plenty to unpick from the world-famous race, here’s everything that you may have missed…
Broadway Boy jockey sustains an injury
Broadway Boy’s fall at the 25th fence was a major talking point in the Grand National, and the gelding has since been looked over by the vets and returned to his stable – with connections optimistic about his condition. Jockey Tom Bellamy, however, did not come away from the fall scratch-free.
Bellamy was rushed to the Aintree University Hospital after the heavy fall, and it has now emerged that he had broken his wrist following the incident.
Willie Mullins sets his sights on British trainers’ title
Mullins became the first Irish owner to win the British trainers’ title since the 1950s last year, and he is now in contention to retain his crown. Dan Skelton was odds-on to win the title heading into the three-day meeting, but Mullins is now just £137,429 behind him in the standings.
Mullins picked up £860,000 in prize money from the Grand National, prompting him to reveal his intentions to challenge for the title. He said: “Of course, we’ll give the title another go now, it looks like it could be on again, to get first, second, third and fifth – we’ll have to improve and get fourth next year!
“I don’t know what the figures are, but it looks like it might put us into a position where we have a real go now. I think I will have Mr Casey (David, assistant trainer) back on Tuesday entering horses at Perth, Ayr, Catterick, Carlisle, Fakenham and Fontwell or wherever.”
Jockey hit with 10-day ban
Jockey Micheal Nolan was handed a 10-day suspension following his ride on Celebre D’Allen, who was pulled up after the last fence before collapsing. It has since emerged that the gelding had suffered from heatstroke, but the ride itself caught the eye of the stewards, who suggested that he should have been pulled up sooner.
The stewards report read: “An enquiry was held to consider whether Micheal Nolan, the rider of CELEBRE D’ALLEN (FR), had continued in the race when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground after the second-last fence. The rider and the Veterinary Officer were interviewed, and recordings of the incident were viewed. The rider was suspended for 10 days.”
‘Curse’ continues
Talk of trends and statistics are annually rife at Aintree, and the emergence of the ‘grey curse’ continues. Prior to Saturday’s renewal, only 11 per cent of grey runners had ever finished in the front five, with only one ever winning – Neptune Collonges in 2012.
The greys who went to post this year did that trend no favours. Vanillier finished 14th, Intense Raffles, Fil Dor, Coko Beach and Hyland were all pulled up, Kandoo Kid fell at the 21st and Duffle Coat unseated Danny Gilligan at the 3rd fence.