Willie Mullins was in tears – he was so wishing late mum Maureen had been there to see Grand National win with Patrick
SILENCED and tearful.
I thought I had seen every side of Willie Mullins until Saturday – and then at Aintree the man who can most certainly be shaken but rarely stirred was simply overcome by what truly matters to him.
Nick Rockett, of course, landed the Randox Grand National under Willie’s son Patrick.
And I believe it was the history and love of his family – what they had achieved and what some were no longer around to witness – which left Willie speechless, tears flooding down his cheeks.
As onlookers we all admire the Mullins clan.
For racing people they are the stuff of legend. Steeped in racing history. Trainers. Jockeys. Owners. Breeders. Part of the furniture.
Willie’s father Paddy – also the sire of Tom and Tony – was a handler, his mother Maureen a breeder in every sense.
They are responsible for Dawn Run, the only horse to win the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Maureen passed last year, and she was considered by many as Ireland’s great matriarch.
At 94 she was still going racing.
In her company you really did feel you were chatting with royalty.
Maureen didn’t say much, but if you got a few words from her it felt like you had made it!
As well as her sons, of course grandchildren include Patrick, Danny, a multiple Grade 1 hero, David, also a Grand National-winning rider, and Emmet, a Grand National-winning trainer.
Think about that for a moment. Quite extraordinary.
As someone with no history in horse racing I often pinch myself that I get the opportunity to speak to the biggest players in the business.
Interviewing Willie on Saturday on ITV will be a moment I will never forget. I take none of it for granted.
In a flash, one has to work out exactly what is touching Willie most.
Is it providing Patrick with the success? Or the realization that the British trainers’ championship might be his again?
Or is it because Nick Rockett’s owner Stewart Andrew had managed to achieve what his late wife Sadie had always wanted?
As I have said, ultimately, I believe, Willie was overcome by a mixture of providing Patrick with a National success while thinking about Maureen and so wishing she had been there to witness the moment. Family.
In 1983 Paddy Mullins saddled Atha Cliath to land the Foxhunters’ Chase at Cheltenham ridden by Willie.
The history is all there. Willie had experienced what that will have meant to all. Now he was doing the same for his son – but in the ultimate prize.
I’ve conversed with Willie Mullins on telly for many years now.
At one point it was almost every other week when the old Attheraces had the TV rights to Irish racing.
Our round-ups at the end of each day of Punchestown were always a personal highlight.
I quickly learnt you would get nothing from Willie talking about weights and measures. And rarely would he ever suggest a horse would take all the beating.
What he would do is chat about tactics, plans and where he would go for a pint after racing!
Willie has also always had his favourite horses. The incredible Hurricane Fly might well be top of the list.
He’s a man with a sense of humour. You get a text off Willie it’s rarely about racing. Something naughty much more likely to pop up.
When posing questions to Willie Mullins you face a man with a twinkle in his eye. A smile oozing charm.
You saw a moment of that on ITV on Friday.
Before El Fabiolo was due to take on Jonbon I asked Willie whether they might front run or hold up the horse.
I never expected an answer, but sometimes you ask to see what the reply is.
Willie said he hadn’t discussed the matter yet. And I suggested with the race a few minutes away it might be the moment to do so.
Willie grinned and smiled like he was a long lost friend. He might as well have given me a wink as well. Charm.
Some moan about the Mullins domination.
But the Mullins family tree is one everyone should strive to have. Talented. Decent. Loving. Fun.
The first to congratulate those who beat his horses.
It’s impossible not to have total respect.
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