Willie Mullins has significantly bolstered his prospects of achieving an unprecedented Grand National hat-trick following a decisive victory in the race's most critical trial event. The celebrated champion trainer secured his fifteenth win in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, a contest that has emerged as the premier indicator for future success in the prestigious £1 million Aintree spectacle.
The Bobbyjo Chase: A Proven Pathway to Grand National Glory
The Bobbyjo Chase has firmly established itself as the essential preparatory race for the Grand National, with recent history underscoring its predictive power. In 2025, Nick Rockett captured the Bobbyjo before going on to triumph at Aintree with jockey Patrick Mullins. Similarly, I Am Maximus claimed victory in the 2024 Bobbyjo Chase and subsequently secured the Grand National title that same year, highlighting the trial's remarkable consistency in forecasting Aintree winners.
Grangeclare West Emerges as a Leading Contender
Stable jockey Paul Townend made a strategic selection for Saturday's Grade 3 race, opting to ride Grangeclare West from among Mullins' four entries. This decision proved astute as Grangeclare West, who had not won since 2023, demonstrated formidable class on the run-in, powering clear of rival Gerri Colombe to secure a convincing victory by five and a half lengths.
This performance has dramatically altered the betting landscape for the Grand National. Bookmakers immediately slashed Grangeclare West's odds from 20-1 to 10-1, positioning him as the second-favourite behind 6-1 market leader Iroko, who finished fourth in last year's National. I Am Maximus remains a strong contender in the betting markets as well.
David Stevens of Coral commented: "Grangeclare West ran a massive race to finish third in last year's National, and will head back to Aintree as one of the market leaders having won the Bobbyjo Chase, the best recent trial for the big race."Paul Townend Reflects on the Winning Ride
Speaking to RacingTV after the race, Townend expressed confidence in his mount's abilities. "There was going to be no hiding places but I was on the classy animal. In that ground it was matter of getting a rhythm and keep jumping. I'm glad it worked out," he said.
Townend added: "I could be confident, I was getting that feel off him. On ratings he was entitled to beat them snugly like that and he did. He had to leave a poor run behind him not that long ago but I just looked at it as if I had been on one of the others ones and this lad won, how silly would I look? It's great when it works out."
Mullins' Dominance in the Grand National Build-Up
Willie Mullins' remarkable achievement of training fifteen Bobbyjo Chase winners underscores his mastery in preparing horses for the Grand National challenge. With Grangeclare West's victory, Mullins now has multiple strong contenders for the 2026 Grand National, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 11.
The trainer's recent record at Aintree is particularly impressive, with his stable having produced the first three finishers in last year's Grand National. Grangeclare West was part of that historic 1-2-3 result, finishing third, and now returns to Aintree with enhanced credentials following his Bobbyjo Chase triumph.
As the racing world turns its attention toward the Grand National, Willie Mullins appears exceptionally well-positioned to make history with a potential third consecutive victory in the world's most famous steeplechase, building on the successes of Nick Rockett in 2025 and I Am Maximus in 2024.
