Mullins Grand National

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece, I’m looking back on Grand National Day. It’s the first of two days where I’ll be reviewing the Aintree Grand National Festival.

Aintree Grand National Day Review

Racegoers basked, in the spring sunshine on Saturday, just as they had on Thursday and Friday. The weather really played ball across the three days, but the drying ground—despite plenty of water being put on—led to a raft of non-runners on Grand National Day.

Where else can I start a Grand National Day review but with the world’s most famous horse race.

The Mullins Grand National

Yes, it's a completely different race now and you have to view it through a different lens. It's still an exciting spectacle. Still a huge betting heat. Still a profitable race if you play it right — just a different race.

Those who say “it’s not the race it was” are, of course, right. It isn’t. The fences don’t sort them out like they used to. It’s no longer the war of attrition it once was. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable. You can still love the Grand National — just for what it is now, not what it was.

Conditions were good — no excuses ground unless your horse needed a bog. This year’s renewal was a strong one in terms of class and handicapping.

Unlike the opening three-mile handicap hurdle, which had a farcical start, the National runners got away cleanly. That set the tone for what turned out to be a thrilling finish.

They went a good gallop on the first circuit, which helped to string the field out. Broadway Boy led them until taking a heavy fall at Valentine’s second time around.

A new era, a familiar thrill — and a famous family success

Turning in, Nick Rockett, hit the front travelling powerfully. However, the long run-in from the last has seen many Nationals won and lost. Last year’s winner I Am Maximus loomed upsides his stablemate at the elbow. I thought he’d go past — but credit to both horse and jockey, as Nick Rockett pulled out more to win.

It was an emotional result for father and son, and for the winning owner. You could see how much it meant to Willie Mullins, watching Patrick pull off such a famous success.

I Am Maximus went down on his shield and almost pulled it off again — which, given his jumping and big weight, would have been some feat.

Grangeclare West ran a cracker to finish third, giving Willie an extraordinary 1-2-3. He made a serious mistake at the last but stayed on all the way to the line. Without that error, he would surely have been second — and who knows, maybe even won.

Iroko stayed the trip well but would have preferred softer ground. He never really managed to get into a good early position and had to come from a long way back.

A couple of other Mullins runners also ran big races:

Meetingofthewaters (5th) travelled strongly for a long way but didn’t quite see it out — just like last year. The Topham might be the plan for him next spring.

Minella Cocooner (7th) made too many niggly mistakes, and it all added up late on as he faded after the last.

The well-fancied Intense Raffles never travelled a yard and backers knew their fate very early in the race.

Grand National Trends Deliver

I had three picks in the race — Perceval Legallois, Iroko, and Nick Rockett — so it turned into a good one for me. It had been a grim first two days, but finding the Grand National winner made up for that. More importantly, it was a good result for my subscribers too — who were enjoying their bragging rights on Saturday night.

It was also a big win for the trends I highlighted in Saturday’s column.

Just four horses ticked every box this year — they finished first, second, and fourth, with Perceval Legallois an unfortunate faller when still in contention.

Nicholls Strikes Back

It was the Willie Mullins Grand National Festival, but it’s worth giving Paul Nicholls his dues. He’s had a tough season, yet he and stable jockey Harry Cobden combined for three winners. One of them was Kalif Du Berlais, who landed the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase – the very next race after the National.

Arkle runner-up Only By Night was a morning non-runner due to the quickening ground, leaving L’Eau du Sud – fourth in the Arkle – to go off favourite in first-time cheekpieces.

Harry Cobden is mustard from the front. He got Kalif Du Berlais into a lovely jumping rhythm and the five-year-old measured his fences well. The drop back to two miles suited, and crucially, he’d bypassed Cheltenham and arrived here fresh.

I thought L’Eau du Sud might have left his race behind at Cheltenham – and so it proved. He didn’t jump as fluently and looked flat. I was on the winner, so the meeting at least ended on a high.

Non-Runners Dominate the Day

Earlier on the card, Lulamba was another ground-related non-runner in the Grade 1 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. That opened the door for Gordon Elliott to land the race for the fourth year running this time with Honesty Policy.

He handled the step up in class and distance with ease – though he needed every yard of the 2m4f to collar long-time leader Regent’s Stroll close home. He should make into a fine staying chaser next season.

It had been a tough first two days for Elliott, like myself, so this was a welcome winner.

The non-runners kept coming. Teahupoo was scratched from the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle on account of the ground. That left Kitzbuhel to go off a 100/30 favourite, but the unknown quantity was far too keen early and never looked like seeing out the trip.

Hiddenvalley Lake, third in the race last year, went two better this time. I was on Strong Leader, last year’s winner, but his jumping let him down. He was finishing well, but ultimately, it was those errors that prevented him from following up last year;s win.

Better ground suited the winner, but the result underlines just how open – or perhaps how weak – the staying hurdling division is this season. We’ve had a different winner in every Grade 1 staying hurdle.

Fitting Finale

If Willie and Patrick Mullins hadn’t already had a good day, it got even better in the finale. The pair combined once again as Green Splendour took out the Grade 2 bumper to close Grand National Day on a high for the Irish powerhouse.

A fitting end to a Grand National Day where Willie Mullins dominated, but Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden reminded everyone of their class.

We can expect the Willie Mullins battalions to head over for this week’s Scottish Grand National meeting, which kicks off on Friday.

I’ve got my eye on one of his runners in Saturday’s Champion Hurdle—he looks a major contender.

That said, there’s also a non-Mullins horse currently sitting at a juicy 20/1 who’s really caught my attention.

If he stays in the entries today, I’ll be putting him up exclusively for subscribers here. One to keep an eye on…

Tomorrow, I’ll focus on the first two days of the Graded action at Aintree. Plus, there’s a couple of horses to note from the Grand National Festival.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John