Following victory in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on February 22, 2025, 11 days after the announcement of the weights for the Grand National, Nick Rockett was promoted to 9/1 second-favourite for the world-famous steeplechase. The likes of Hedgehunter (2005) and I Am Maximus (2024) – both of whom were trained, like Nick Rockett, by Willie Mullins – won the Bobbyjo Chase en route to winning the Grand National, so the initial reaction of the bookmakers was, in some ways, justified. Immediately after the Bobbyjo Chase, Mullins said, “That was tough and this should leave him [Nick Rockett] spot on for Aintree.”
However, by the time Grand National Day, April 5, 2025, rolled around, Nick Tockett was actually sent off at 33/1 to emulate his illustrious stable companions. He was, perhaps understandably, foresaken by Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend, who had ridden him at Fairyhouse, but opted instead to ride defending champion I Am Maximus and faced Intense Raffles, whom he had beaten just three-quarters of a length in the Bobbyjo Chase, on 15lb worse terms.
Nevertheless, in the hands of leading amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, son of his trainer, Nick Rockett fared best of six entries from the famous Closutton Yard. Having travelled strongly, the stoutly-bred eight-year-old made headway four fences from home and took a narrow lead two out. On the run-in, he faced a strong challenge from the aforementioned I Am Maximus but, in receipt of 4lb, Nick Rockett, kept on well in closing stages to repel his stable companion and win by two-and-a-half lengths. Grangeclare West, also trained by Willie Mullins, finished third, a further half a length away, thereby giving the County Carlow handler a notable 1-2-3. Patrick Mullins, for his trouble, was referred to the Whip Review Committee by the raceday stewards and subsequently suspended for eight days, having been found to have used his whip once above the permitted level of seven from after the final fence.
An emotional Willie Mullins said afterwards, “Being the lucky day that can lead your son up on a Grand National winner. It must be like being the manager of a World Cup team and having your son score the winning goal.” In praise of his father, Patrick Mullins said, “You read of trainers retiring. I don’t see Willie retiring, I just see him dying at some stage, like my grandfather [Paddy, trainer of Dawn Run]; he trained until he died. It’s not a job, it’s what he is.”