Mullins lands Irish National

Willie Mullins landed his first irish national yesterday and he did it in style as 6-1 favourite Burrows saint led home a 1-2-3 for the trainer.

The €500,000 (£434,000) Fairyhouse marathon had proved elusive for ireland’s 12-time champion trainer but he knew he had it in the bag going to the second-last fence when the only dangers to the Ruby Walsh-ridden winner were his stablemates, isleofhopendreams, who was runnerup for the second year running, and third Acapella Bourgeois.

Virtually the only two races Mullins had not won were the irish national and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He now has them both with this success following the victory of Al Boum Photo at Cheltenham in March.

novice Burrows saint also gave Mullins a win in a race his late father Paddy won four times as a trainer.

Reflecting on his length and threequarter victory, Mullins said: ‘it was a race i have always wanted to win. it was probably the first big race my father won training so it is a race that has a bit of resonance in our house.’

next year’s Grand national will now be on the agenda for six-year- old Burrows saint, who carries the colours of owner Rich Ricci.

Walsh, who was winning his third irish national, said Burrows saint is a perfect Aintree candidate. He added: ‘i’d say we’d run him over hurdles now, and then have a go at Tiger Roll.’

Mullins ran seven of the 30 starters in the irish national but lost two of his bigger hopes, Pairofbrowneyes and C’est Jersey, who fell on the first circuit.

Big rival Gordon elliott ran 11 in the race. His best finisher was Roaring Bull in sixth. That was also the best of the 12 runners representing Michael O’leary’s Gigginstown stud.