It was always going to be an extraordinary day, as is so often the case with the Grand National - and this year was no exception. As Willie Mullins, the most successful trainer in the sport, put it: ‘It is a race where everyone has a chance and anything can happen.’
"It is lovely to be able to give your son a ride in the National, but to be able to win it is just unbelievable."
A Family Story
This year felt particularly special. It was Willie Mullins’ son, Patrick Mullins, who won the race on Nick Rockett, a 33/1 shot. A poignant win - and one that couldn’t have aligned more perfectly with Boodles’ own tagline: a family story. Having designed and created the trophy this year, it was a real joy for Boodles to see it lifted by two members of the same family.
The Grand National Trophy
The trophy includes several unique details: a stylised horseshoe, a twisting DNA double helix crossed by 16 bars to represent the jumps, and a rectangular biochip - a nod to Randox’s testing technology. The malachite base is a subtle reference to the green of the ground, and to Boodles’ historic use of green onyx in its trophy designs of which it has been creating for the last century.
Boodles Chairman Michael Wainwright attended the day with his son, Geordie Wainwright, who was recently appointed a Director of the business, which made the whole occasion feel all the more fitting!
Earlier in the week, on Thursday 3rd April, Boodles also sponsored the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, which was won by Murcia, another horse trained by Willie Mullins, who was ridden by Paul Townend.