Profiling Willie Mullins’ Runners in the 2025 Grand National

Willie Mullins is the undisputed king of horse racing, with a staggering 103 career wins at the Cheltenham Festival and more accolades than we could possibly fit into a paragraph. He has a good record in the English Grand National at Aintree, too, winning the race twice with Hedgehunter in 2005 and 12 months ago with I Am Maximus. The master of Closutton has an incredibly strong hand for Saturday’s race and we’ve taken a look at all six of his horses that are set to take their chance in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

Hugely talented nine-year-old who produced a sensational performance to win this 12 months ago, sweeping clear at the Elbow for a seven-and-a-half-length success. That victory was the second-best performance this century on Racing Post Ratings (behind Tiger Roll in 2019) though things haven’t exactly gone to plan since being well beaten in two attempts at the Grade 1 level at Leopardstown. He’s been well supported in the betting all week but will have to do it the hard way if he is to win this again, as he carries top weight. The fact that he can handle Aintree is a huge feather in his cap, but he’d likely need a career best to become just the second double winner of the race this century. 

A smart performer who has some excellent handicap form under his belt, finishing a fine third behind Intense Raffles in last year’s Irish Grand National before winning the hugely competitive bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown later that month. He was suited by both the fast ground and the marathon trip of three and a half miles that day and there’s every chance that the extreme trip posed by the Grand National will eke out more improvement. Admittedly, he hasn’t been at his best so far this term, but he took a firm step back in the right direction when fourth in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last time, which is a key pointer for this tradition. With a nice racing weight, it would be no surprise should he go close under Jonathan Burke.

Another smart staying chaser from the yard, who lost very little in defeat when finishing seventh in this race last year. He was very much in the conversation at the final fence before just fading late on, though that could potentially be attributed to a mistake at the final ditch rather than his stamina giving way, as he plugged on to the line. He hasn’t shown a great deal in three starts this term, though there’s a feeling that he’s being primed with this race in mind and it would be no surprise should he go well again off a 1lb higher mark than last year. 

Steadily improving handicapper who has produced some eye-catching performances this season, winning both the Thyestes Handicap at Gowran and the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse a month later. Both of those contests usually serve as solid pointers for this and he’s certainly shown that he has the stamina reserves to cope with Aintree’s extreme test. He took the scalp of race rival Intense Rivals when coming out on top last time out and deserves plenty of respect, though he will need to improve his jumping if he is to win this. 

High-class performer, who won Grade 1 honours as a novice at Leopardstown last season. Injury ruled him out of the key spring races and he’s steadily returned to form this term, running a screamer to finish second behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup back in February. That performance certainly merited a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so it’s interesting that Mullins opted to swerve that race in favour of this. He struggled over a shorter distance at Navan last time but he should at least arrive here fresh and he’s a fascinating contender should he take to the course.

Verdict on Willie Mullins’ Grand National Runners

Willie Mullins is the current British champion trainer for a reason (despite being based in Ireland), and he has a line-up for the Grand National, which is the envy of everyone else. I Am Maximus will be popular with plenty after his heroics in last year’s race, though it could be that Minella Cocooner proves to be Mullins’ best chance in this year’s race. He’s got an intriguing profile for this, and should the extra distance squeeze out some more improvement, it would be no surprise should he go very close indeed.