Willie Mullins has not enjoyed the success you would expect out of one of the greatest trainers in the history of jumps racing at the Irish Grand National and the Grand National. The Irishman has won each event only once, and only broke his duck at the Irish National in 2019 after enduring a lengthy drought without the crown.
He made a breakthrough in the 2005 Grand National but has failed to win the prestigious event since. It is curious since Mullins has no shortage of talent in his yard, but for one reason or another, he has not been able to conjure the same magic at Fairyhouse as he has at Punchestown, Leopardstown and Cheltenham.
Recent YearsMullins does have quality horses in the form of Gaillard Du Mensil that will be available in the Irish Grand National after he elected to place his charge in the race at Fairyhouse rather than Aintree. It would be a strong end to the campaign for Gaillard Du Mensil, who secured a win at Cheltenham and is now backed at 12/1 in the Irish Grand National odds to triumph. However, Mullins has been in this position before and his charges have failed to deliver in the event.
Gaillard Du Mensil ran in 2022 as the favourite, but finished in third off the pace of Lord Lariat. Agusta Gold was another solid shout in 2021 at odds of 6/1. He failed to get anywhere near contention for the win down in 11th as the 150/1 shout Freewheelin Dylan claimed the victory for Dermot McLoughlin, who also trained Lord Lariat.
Burrows Saint winner of the Irish Grand National @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/JISE7CAIvL
— David Betts (@davidbetts3213) April 22, 2019
McLoughlin has two winners at the Irish Grand National, one more to his name than Mullins which is staggering. Burrows Saint made the breakthrough for Mullins in 2019 at the Irish Grand National, producing an outstanding run in a 1-2-3 for the trainer as Isleofhopendreams and Acapella Bourgeois placed just behind their stable-mate. But, the 2019 race and Burrows Saint's triumph has been the outlier for his trainer in the event.
Why Has Mullins Struggled?Mullins has one of the biggest yards, if not the biggest in Europe, for jumps racing. Therefore, he should have all the talent at his disposal to train winners in distance events. It is not always as straightforward as having the most horses available as there are a number of other trainers such as Nicky Henderson, Henry de Bromhead, Gordon Elliott and a host of others that have quality charges themselves.
Elliott has been particularly good at training distance horses, none more so than two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll. Even Elliott has struggled at the Irish Grand National with only one winner in 2018 with General Principle.
Gordon Elliott with Tiger Roll. Pic by @GChadwick_ . MoS interview later pic.twitter.com/uuXrWpOI40
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) March 30, 2019
Mullins' strength is training fledgling horses at the early stage of their careers. It is why he has enjoyed so much success in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham along with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Arkle Chase and Mares' Hurdle among others. Before Al Boum Photo's triumph in 2019 and 2020, Mullins had somehow failed to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He has now trained three out of the last five winners of the event.
It proves that matters can turn quickly, but it also might suggest that Mullins may need to tweak his approach in the distance races to secure more consistent results. The 2023 Irish Grand National and beyond will be illuminating.
