Grand National
Willie Mullins Runners In The 2025 Grand National
Willie Mullins has trained the Grand National winner twice, but most surprisingly the two victories were 19 years apart!
It was back in 2005 when Mullins saddled his first Grand National winner, courtesy of Hedgehunter who returned at odds of 7/1. In 2024 Mullins sent out yet another 7/1 scorer in the shape of I Am Maximus, who returns to defend his title in 2025.
Here are Willie Mullins’ runners for this year’s renewal:
I AM MAXIMUS
In 2024, the now nine-year-old powered his way to a seven and a half length success over Delta Work to hand owner JP McManus his third success and trainer Willie Mullins his second in the world’s greatest steeplechase.
Mullins has said it would be some task to win the biggest horse racing betting race for a second time, carrying top weight off 11st 12lb. No top weight has won the race since triple victor Red Rum in 1974.
NICK ROCKETT
Nick Rockett finished seventh in the Irish Grand National and third in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year, and has stepped up yet another gear this term.
Fourth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on his seasonal return before winning the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase, he then inflicted a three-quarter-length defeat on Intense Raffles at Fairyhouse in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase, which is always a decent pointer to the Grand National.
GRANGECLARE WEST
Rated 163 and off a weight of 11st 8lb. Mullins was very happy with Grangeclare West’s second in the Irish Gold Cup on February 1st. If he can put in a performance like that at Aintree then he will definitely be in the mix.
APPRECIATE IT
Veteran performer Appreciate It showed he was still in love with the game when he coasted to victory in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles in January.
His runs over three miles have been few and far between however, which is a slight worry for anyone looking at Grand National betting odds for this dual Grade 1 winner.
CAPODANNO
Capodanno was in the process of running a good race last year before he made a serious mistake at Becher’s the second time around. The handicapper has given him a chance and he should handle the fences better this time.
MINELLA COCOONER
Minella Cocooner is a good jumper as he showed when winning the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year. Mullins concedes it will be a tough assignment to win another big handicap but they will let him take his chance in the 34-strong field.
MEETINGOFTHEWATERS
The last of the Mullins runners likely to get into the race includes last year’s seventh Meetingofthewaters. The eight-year-old, who is owned by JP McManus, has halved in price from 40/1 to 20/1 in the last couple of weeks.
“He’s one I like,” Mullins said. “My eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. Last year he was looking almost like the winner coming to the second-last, he was certainly going well within himself. He’s a year older and stronger and he has a lovely racing weight.”
