If we ever needed a reminder of the strength of Irish jumps racing it came at the Grand National on Saturday, with 18 of the 34-horse field trained in Ireland.
So it was somehow inevitable that the winner of the 2025 Grand National hailed from the Emerald Isle… and the training yard of that man Willie Mullins.
Six of the field were Mullins trained horses, with Nick Rockett – a 33/1 chance with the bookies – leading them home to hand the Irish trainer a second consecutive Grand National victory.
But this one was extra special for the champion trainer, given that his son Patrick was in the saddle. Mullins, so often a laidback and quietly spoken type, couldn’t even complete his post-race interviews as the tears flowed.
The defending champion, I Am Maximus, gave a valiant performance to finish in second place, while Grangeclare West crossed the line in third – completing the Willie Mullins 1-2-3.
After the extraordinary 2024 edition of the Grand National, in which there were no fallers for the first time in the race’s history, Saturday’s renewal saw the Aintree showpiece hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons once more.
A handful of horses were taken away from the track in ambulances after heavy falls, while Celebre D’Allen – who collapsed during the run-in for home – sadly lost his life.
Jockey Tom Bellamy broke his wrist in a fall, while Patrick Mullins was handed an eight-day suspension after using his whip too many times after the final fence.
| Fence | Fell | Unseated Rider | Brought Down | Pulled Up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 21 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 18 |
First Circuit
Fence 3
- Unseated Rider: Duffle Coat
All 34 declared runners were under starter’s orders at Aintree, with each navigating the first two fences safely.
The first departure came at the third fence, where Duffle Coat unseated rider Danny Gilligan after making a hash of his jump.
Fence 9
- Fell: Perceval Legallois
The first faller came at fence number nine; perhaps better known as Valentine’s Brook.
The fancied 10/1 chance Perceval Legallois got into a bit of a tangle and fell, but happily he and jockey Mark Walsh walked away unscathed.
Fence 15
- Pulled Up: Coko Beach
Given the enormous jumping challenge posed by the 15th fence, The Chair, it’s only right for a horse’s welfare that a jockey pulls up their mount if they sense any weakness.
And that’s exactly what Jody McGarvey did, retiring Coko Beach prior to the mammoth obstacle.
Second Circuit
Fence 17
- Pulled Up: Intense Raffles
- Pulled Up: Royale Pagaille
Into the second circuit they went at a decent gallop, with the good-to-soft ground promoting a fair round of racing – even if the fences were somewhat stiffer than at the 2024 edition.
The tempo proved too fierce for 14/1 chance Intense Raffles and Royale Pagaille, who were pulled up by JJ Slevin and Charlie Deutsche respectively ahead of the 17th fence.
Fence 21
- Brought Down: Appreciate It
- Fell: Kandoo Kid
After a monstrous test of stamina, it’s the business end of the Grand National which typically sees jumping errors from leg-weary horses.
And so it proved once again on Saturday, as Kandoo Kid – who was travelling smoothly under Harry Cobden – came down at the 21st fence.
That fall caused minor chaos in and around the obstacle, which ultimately saw Appreciate It brought down amongst the melee.
Fence 22
- Pulled Up: Threeunderthrufive
- Pulled Up: Stay Away Fay
The second circuit of the Grand National features a second tilt at Becher’s Brook, which is no fence for an energy-sapped horse to take.
Thankfully, Paul O’Brien noticed that Stay Away Fay was flagging markedly, so decided to pull him up prior to the 22nd fence.
As did Harry Skelton, who also called an early halt to proceedings for his ride, Threeunderthrufive.
Fence 25
- Fell: Broadway Boy
The second go at Valentine’s Brook would have ramifications for the outcome of the race, with leader Broadway Boy falling.
His rider, Tom Bellamy, broke his wrist in the fall.
Fence 26
- Pulled Up: Hitman
The big leap at the 25th fence sapped the strength of Hitman, who was pulled up by Freddie Gingell ahead of the next obstacle.
Fence 27
- Pulled Up: Monbeg Genius
A heavy stumble at the 16th fence derailed Monbeg Genius’ hopes of Grand National glory, and after weakening thereafter he was pulled up by Nick Scholfield after the 27th obstacle.
Fence 29
- Pulled Up: Conflated
- Pulled Up: Fil Dor
- Pulled Up: Hyland
- Pulled Up: Idas Boy
- Pulled Up: Stumptown
Five of the field were pulled up with just two fences left to jump: Conflated, Fil Dor, Hyland, Idas Boy and Cheltenham Festival winner Stumptown.
Fence 30
- Pulled Up: Celebre D’Allen
The final word should go to the tragic Celebre D’Allen, who actually navigated the final fence safely.
But he weakened significantly in the run-in, before collapsing on the track. He died a few days later of a severe respiratory infection.