Nick Rockett

For readers who, perhaps, haven’t read the news recently, Nick Rockett is an eight-year-old gelding who, on April 5, 2025, writ his name large in the annals of Aintree by winning the Grand National. Still officially owned by Bradford-born Stewart Andrew and his late wife, Sadie, and trained by Willie Mullins at Muine Bheag, Co. Carlow, Nick Rockett had advertised his Grand National claims by winning the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse after the weights for the world-famous steeplechase were published.

In the absence of the 2024 Grand National winner, I Am Maximus, Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend switched to Nick Rockett at Fairyhouse. Following a three-quarters-of-a-length victory over Intense Raffles, Townend said of the son of Walk In The Park, “He’s a hardy horse this year. I could see him running well in the National, big time.” Bookmakers, too, took note of the performance, quoting Nick Rockett as short as 8/1 second-favourite, ante-post, for the Grand National. Many took advantage of Free Bets UK , bonuses and the like to make the most of their National bet.

At Aintree, although evidently impressed by Nick Rockett, Townend chose to stick with I Am Maximus, leaving Nick Rockett to be ridden by Mullins’ son, and 15-time Irish champion amateur, Patrick. Jockey bookings, coupled with the fact that Intense Raffles was re-opossing on 15lb better terms than at Fairyhouse, may have contributed to Nick Rockett being sent off at a generous-looking 33/1 for the Grand National. In any event, Intense Raffles proved no threat at all and was tailed off when pulled up early on the second cicuit.

Nick Rockett, on the other hand, travelled and jumped well throughout, took a narrow lead at the second-last fence and mastered I Am Maximus on the run-in to win by 2½ lengths. In so doing, he took his record under Rules to 7-13, including 4-9 over fences, and his career earnings to just over £640,000. His only previous start on British soil resulted in a close third behind stable companion Minella Cocooner – whom he beat into seventh place in the National – in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park in April 2024 and he clearly has a bright future on both sides of the Irish Sea.