Patrick Mullins dreaming of Rockett re-launch

3AD835B Patrick Mullins aboard Nick Rockett after winning the Randox Grand National on day three of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday April 5, 2025.

Patrick Mullins admits the only thing that could top winning the Aintree Grand National on Nick Rockett would be to do it again.

The top amateur rider, son and assistant trainer to Willie Mullins, enjoyed the Aintree fairytale last year as he came home first in the world’s most iconic steeplechase on the horse trained by his legendary father.

It was a second successive Grand National victory for the Mullins yard and Willie had the first, second, third, fifth and seventh home last year in an incredible feat.

Nick Rockett on the comeback trail

The weights for the 2026 Grand National at Aintree were revealed at a ceremony in Liverpool recently and the 2024 winner I Am Maximum (second last year) is set to carry top-weight this time.

The 10-year-old also headed the weights last year and will again carry 11st 12lb. No top weight has won the world’s greatest steeplechase since triple victor Red Rum in 1974.

Nick Rockett could emulate Red Rum and Tiger Roll as the most recent horses to retain the Aintree race.

He’s got an official rating of 168 this time and will carry 11st 11lb, 3lb more than when scoring in 2025.

He hasn’t since last year’s race but Patrick Mullins says he is progressing now after a minor setback in December.

“We haven’t had a clear run with him, and he had an over-reach before the John Durkan. He then had a setback just before Christmas, so we’re behind where we want to be,” he said.

“He’s back riding and we’re hoping to get a run into him before Aintree, so we’re hoping to find a race for him somewhere. We’ve no plan for him yet, but we should get him there, all being well.”

Once was good, twice would be better

Mullins admits it was a dream come true to win the National at Aintree and freely concedes that the reality lived up to his childhood ambitions.

If Nick Rockett does get back to Merseyside come Saturday, April 11^th, he wants to be on board once more – with his old sparring partner around a 28/1 chance to retain the crown.

“It’s rare that the reality is better than the dream, but that’s what it was,” said Mullins. “Since I’ve been a kid reading books about it and watching black and white videos of the National, it’s always been my dream, and it was better than I could have dreamt of.

“It doesn’t get any better than that, unless you can win it a second time maybe!

“Without a doubt I’d love to ride Nick Rockett again. We’ve got a good team of jockeys, and I don’t think there will be any shortage of volunteers to ride our horses!”

I Am Maximus comes alive at Aintree

The JP McManus-owned I Am Maximus has run in two Nationals at Aintree and been beaten by only Nick Rockett after backing up his 2024 win when finishing second under top-weight last year.

That is the challenge once more for the 10-year-old – ridden by Paul Townend in both Nationals – and his assistant trainer certainly believes he has a big chance once more.

“He ran a blinder last year off top weight, but he missed his third run that year and maybe that told in the final furlong or so,” Mullins added.

“It looks this year like we may be able to get a third run into him, which I think will be a big help, and I think the key thing for him may be slower ground. I think the year he won it was a good bit slower than last year, so that seems to help him jump.

“He’s not the most fantastic jumper, so the fences seem to bring something out of him. He’s a bit like Tiger Roll in that he seems to enjoy the fences.”