Willie Mullins is one of those horse trainers which garners respect. It has been earned by consistent performances. In 2023-24 Mullins became the first Irish-based trainer to win the British jump racing trainers’ championship. This was the first time in 70 years. Previously, this had been won by Vincent O’Brien in 1952-1953.
Mullins has been Irish champion trainer on 17 occasions with over 4,300 victories.
He’s the most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with over 100 winners.
A powerhouse of a stable.
The key word for Mullins is respect.
Since starting his training career in 1988, after being assistant trainer to his father Paddy, and Jim Bolger, he has excelled at the highest level.
However, if there has been one race which has been something of a nemesis for the Carlow trainer it has been the Aintree Grand National. This isn’t to say Mullins hasn’t shown his class in the most famous steeplechase of them all. In fact, he has trained the winner of two races and had plenty of others run well.
His performance shows how difficult a race it is to win.
Let’s take a look at his performance in the Grand National.
Willie Mullins Grand National List Of Runners:
2000 – Micko’s Dream 14/1, Jason Titley Fell (1st fence)
2002 – Alexander Banquet 22/1, Barry Geraghty UR (6th fence)
2004 – Alexander Banquet 18/1, James Barry Fell (18th fence)
2004 – Hedgehunter 11/1, David Casey Fell (30th fence)
2005 – Hedgehunter 7/1, Ruby Walsh 1st
2006 – Hedgehunter 5/1jf, 2nd
2007 – Hedgehunter 9/1, Ruby Walsh 9th
2007 – Livingston Bramble, Davy Russell UR (6th fence)
2007 – Homer Wells, David Condon PU (27th fence)
2007 – Botha Na, David Casey PU (29th fence)
2008 – Snowy Morning 16/1 Tom Taaffe 3rd
2008 – Hedgehunter 10/1 Ruby Walsh 13th
2009 – Snowy Morning 33/1 Andrew McNamara 9th
2009 – Irish Invader 16/1 Paul Townsend 11th
2010 – Snowy Morning 14/1 David Casey 6th
2010 – Abor Supreme 16/1 Paul Townend UR (15th fence)
2011 – The Midnight Club 15/2F Ruby Walsh 6th
2011 – Dooney’s Gate 50/1 Mr Ryan Mahon Fell (6th fence)
2011 – Arbor Supreme 20/1 David Casey Fell (28th fence)
2012 – The Midnight Club 40/1 Andrew Tinkler 11th
2012 – Quiscover Fontaine 50/1 David Casey Fell (17th fence)
2012 – On His Own 14/1 Paul Townend Fell (22nd fence)
2013 – Quiscover Fontaine 40/1 David Casey 16th
2013 – Quel Esprit 40/1 Paul Townend PU (23rd fence)
2013 – On His Own 8/1 Ruby Wash Fell (25th fence)
2014 – Vesper Bell 40/1 Katie Walsh 13th
2014 – Prince De Beauchene 20/1 Paul Townend 16th
2015 – Ballycasey 25/1 Ruby Walsh BD (8th fence)
2016 – On His Own 33/1 Mr Patrick Mullins Fell (15th fence)
2016 – Sir Des Champs 20/1 Miss Nina Carberry Fell (15th fence)
2016 – Boston Bob 25/1 Paul Townend PU (22nd fence)
2016 – Ballycasey 5/1 Katie Walsh UR (29th fence)
2017 – Pleasant Company 11/1 Ruby Walsh 9th
2018 – Pleasant Company 25/1 David Mullins 2nd
2018 – Total Recall 7/1 Paul Townend PU (29th fence)
2018 – Children’s List 66/1 Jonathan Burke PU (run-in)
2019 – Rathvinden 8/1 Ruby Walsh 3rd
2019 – Livelovelaugh 25/1 David Mullins 11th
2019 – Up For Review 25/1 Danny Mullins BD (1st fence)
2019 – Pleasant Company 12/1 Paul Townend UR (26th fence)
2021 – Burrows Saint 9/1 Patrick Mullins 4th
2021 – Cabaret Queen 80/1 Sean O’Keefe 9th
2021 – Acapella Bourgeois 20/1 Danny Mullins 13th
2021 – Class Conti 66/1 Brian Haynes 15th
2022 – Class Conti 100/1 Sam Twiston-Davies 13th
2022 – Augusta Gold 66/1 Danny Mullins Fell (9th fence)
2022 – Burrows Saint 33/1 Paul Townend UR (15th fence)
2022 – Brahma Bull 80/1 Brian Hayes PU (27th fence)
2023 – Gaillard Du Mesnil 10/1 Paul Towend 3rd
2023 – Carefully Selected 50/1 Michael O’Sullivan 14th
2023 – Capodanno 22/1 Danny Mullins PU (29th fence)
2023 – Recite A Prayer 80/1 Jack Foley UR (1st fence)
2023 – Mr Incredible 14/1 Brian Hayes UR (24th fence)
2024 – I Am Maximus 7/1jf Paul Townend 1st
2024 – Meetingofthewaters 11/1 Danny Mullins 7th
2024 – Capodanno 28/1 Keith Donoghue 16th
2024 – Adamantly Chosen 33/1 Sean O’Keefe 21st
2024 – Stattler 40/1 Paddy Mullins PU (9th fence)
2024 – Mr Incredible 10/1 Brian Hayes UR (15th fence)
2024 – Janidil 125/1 Jody McGarvey PU (30th fence)
Key: UR – Unseated Rider, PU – Pulled up, BD – Brought Down, F – Fell
2/63 Runners (2000 – 2024) 3% Win rate
8/63 Win/Placed (2000 – 2024) 13%
To be fair, I had no idea how many runners Willie Mullins had sent to the Aintree Grand National but as you can see from this list it is a race he has fired a lot of arrows with limited success. Certainly, in recent years he has sent larger strings.
2005 Grand National Winner – Hedgehunter 7/1f
Sponsored by John Smith’s. This was the 158th running. This was a very popular winner for owner Trevor Hemmings. A gentleman. It was an easy win for Ruby Walsh as the nine-year-old gelding ran out a tidy winner carrying 11-1. He beat Royal Auclair (40/1) trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Christian Williams, third place going to Simply Gifted (66/1) trained by Jonjo O’Neill, ridden by Brian Harding.
2024 Grand National Winner – I Am Maximus 7/1jf
Sponsored by Randox Health. The 176th Grand National. The number of entrants was reduced from 40 to 34 with regard to safety concerns and animal welfare. Two horses were found to be lame on the morning of the race reducing the number to 32. This was the smallest field since 1999. There were 21 horse who finished the race. All horses returned home safely. The Mullins team had to wait a long time between drifts for their second national winner in the ownership of J.P. McManus, ridden by Paul Townend. The joint-favourite won well by seven and a half lengths from Delta Work (28/1) trained by Gordon Elliott, ridden by Jack Kennady. Third place went to *Minella Indo (28/1) trained by henry De Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
*Won the Grand National 2021, in the ownership of J.P.McManus.
J. P. McManus has won the race three times: 2010 Don’t Push It 10/1, 2021 Minella Times 11/1 & 2024 I Am Maximus 7/1.