Willie Mullins keeps having his great ambition of Melbourne Cup success dashed - but the master Irish trainer has now achieved the impossible dream of saddling the first three horses home in the world's greatest steeplechase, the Grand National -- with the winner being ridden by his son.
The 68-year-old, normally a measured, unemotional figure, ended up in floods of tears at Aintree on Saturday after his 35-year-old lad Patrick joined the list of amateur jockeys who've won the National as he piloted home 33-1 long shot Nick Rockett for the most heartwarming of triumphs.
Two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner was the Mullins-trained 2024 victor I am Maximus and third-placed Grangeclare West.
