Grand National results LIVE: Winner reaction as outsider Nick Rockett beats I Am Maximus in thrilling race
Trainer Willie Mullins takes a remarkable one-two-three as son Patrick Mullins is the winning jockey at Aintree
Outsider Nick Rockett won a thrilling 2025 Grand National , defeating last year’s winner I Am Maximus in a dramatic head to head down the home straight at Aintree Racecourse.
Nick Rockett was a 33-1 shot ahead of the race and his victory left trainer Willie Mullins visibly emotional, with his son Patrick Mullins the winning jockey. “Some result,” said Willie Mullins. “It’s lovely to be able to give your son a ride in the National, but to win it is unbelievable.”
In fact, it was a dream race for Mullins as he secured a 1-2-3, with Nick Rockett, favourite I Am Maximus – who defied the top weight of 11st 12lbs with a brilliant run – and third-placed Grangeclare West (also 33-1) all trained by the dominant 68-year-old trainer. In fact, of the six horses he saddled, five of them finished in the top seven.
Follow all the Grand National action with The Independent’s blog, live from Aintree:
More from Mullins
"To have one horse run in the National, but then to have one your son can ride is millions, millions, millions to one what happened today.
“It is just something else to be able to leg up your son in the greatest race of all time. You dream of winning it yourself but to dream of putting your son up - when he was born I said he couldn't be the jockey the size of him, but he's turned out to be a fantastic jockey.
“You dream about winning big races here and there but the first race we saw growing up was the Grand National in black and white. We all lived every year for the horse you were going to back in the National - and the owners and trainers of the National runners were heroes in our game.
Mullins reacts
Some quotes from Willie Mullins here, as he spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after the conclusion of the Grand National.
“I am just about recovering. I am hoping to win the Grand National and hoping to get a horse your son can ride because he's such a tall, heavy guy so he can only ride about five horses in the race and one of them came free. I never for a moment dreamt that he'd win the race. I hoped that he won but I never put together what it would be like if he did win.
"From the third last fence onwards I thought it was on and coming towards the elbow I thought he was going to be beaten but Patrick told me afterwards that he didn't want to hit the front too soon because the soon gets very lazy in front. I was just speechless. I don't know if I gave him a cheer, I was just speechless. I just broke down completely. I did for about 20 minutes after. I just couldn't help it, I just completely lost it.”
Green Splendour wins Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race
Here’s the result from the last race of the 2025 Festival then
1 - Green Splendour - 10/3
2 - Destination Dubai - 10/1
3 - Koktail Brut - 11/2
Green Splendour wins Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race
A brilliant day for the Mullins family, but Patrick and Willie in particular!
We’ll have reaction and the result soon.
Green Splendour wins Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race
A brilliant race from Green Splendour and he takes the lead before romping home to a win by over a length.
Another win for Mullins and three for Patrick!
Eight in total for the stable.
Kalid Du Berlais wins Rosconn Group Maghull Novices' Chase
Here's the result from race six of the day.
1 - Kalif Du Berlais - 15/8
2 - Brookie - 25/1
3 - L'eau Du Sud - 5/4
Update on Broadway Boy
Broadway Boy has walked onto the horse ambulance and will return to the stables for further assessments, so hopefully there’s good news there.
Kalid Du Berlais wins Rosconn Group Maghull Novices' Chase
And that mistake at the penultimate fence from Touch Me Not has allowed Kalif Du Berlais to stroll to the win!
He fought off a late challenge after Brookie came into contention with the mistake from Touch Me Not, but he left it too late and finished second.
Rosconn Group Maghull Novices' Chase
There is an update from Aintree on the two horses that fell, with both being assessed.
Broadway Boy, who had been in the lead at the time, looked like he took a nasty fall, while Celebre was pulled up in the run-in.
A Mullins family affair at the Grand National
Willie Mullins saddled 6 horses and five of them finished in the first 7!
The Irishman won £860,000 in prize money and is now odds on to win the trainer's title for the second year running.
In addition, his son Patrick is the winning jockey!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments