It’s Irish Grand National day – and when it comes to big-race success, Willie Mullins knows exactly how to deliver.
He’s already landed this one twice, first with Burrows Saint in 2019 and again with I Am Maximus in 2023.
Now, in 2025, he’s back at Fairyhouse with another strong team aiming to make it a hat-trick.
Today, he sends out a small but powerful team to Fairyhouse in the hope that 2025 is the year he can tick off wins in the Irish, Aintree and Scottish Grand Nationals in the same month.
Whether it’s a proven stayer or a rising talent, Mullins has his bases covered. With punters eager to follow the form and the yard firing on all cylinders, you can expect his runners to be popular at the bookies.
He’s conquered Cheltenham, dominated Punchestown, ruled at Aintree, and now he’s eyeing another chapter of Fairyhouse success.
Willie Mullins: Chasing the National Treble
Willie Mullins is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure, but even by his extraordinary standards, April 2025 has been a month like no other.
Already this month, Mullins has swept to victory in the world’s two other great spring Nationals: the Aintree Grand National with Nick Rockett and the Scottish Grand National with Captain Cody.
At Aintree, his son Patrick guided Nick Rockett to a famous victory, leading home a remarkable 1-2-3 for the stable.
A week later, Captain Cody and Klarc Kent delivered a one-two finish for Mullins in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
Today at Fairyhouse, the Irish champion trainer stands on the brink of an unprecedented treble where he seeks a clean sweep of the Nationals – something never before accomplished in the modern era.
Mullins, with just two runners – Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste – aims to make history. So, can he do it?
The Mullins Pair: Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste
In a field of 30 for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, Mullins relies on just two runners: Quai De Bourbon, the more fancied of the pair, and Sa Majeste, a horse with stamina and class.
Both have compelling stories and credentials, and each has a realistic chance of delivering Mullins his third National in as many weeks.
Quai De Bourbon: The Unfinished Novice
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Jockey: Paul Townend
Quai De Bourbon is a horse with untapped potential and a touch of the unknown. With just four chases under his belt (one win and one third place finish), this phase career has been both promising and frustrating.
His sole chase win came over 2m4f at Gowran Park in January, where he showed a neat turn of foot and solid jumping.
However, his preparation for this marathon test has been less than ideal. He unseated his rider in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham when still in contention and was brought down at Aintree in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase when making progress.
Despite these mishaps, Quai De Bourbon’s raw ability is not in doubt. He finished third in last year’s Martin Pipe at Cheltenham behind Better Days Ahead, who reopposes today and is among the favourites.
The big question is stamina – he has yet to finish a race beyond 2m5½f, and today’s 3m5f will be a searching test.
However, his pedigree offers hope that he will stay, and with Paul Townend on board, he has every chance.
If he can put together a clear round and settle into a rhythm, he has the class to be a major player.
The market has been cautious, reflecting both his potential and his inexperience, but in a race where novices have a strong recent record, Quai De Bourbon could be the one to give Mullins his historic treble.
Odds: 8/1
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Sa Majeste: The Stayer with a Point to Prove
Owner: JP McManus
Jockey: Simon Torrens
Sa Majeste, the second Mullins runner, brings a different profile. A year older and more experienced over staying trips, he has won two of his five starts over fences this season, both in small fields and on soft or heavy ground.
His most notable recent effort came in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, where he raced prominently but was well held from the last, finishing third behind Daily Present and Johnnywho, both of whom will also line up today.
Sa Majeste is a tough, genuine stayer who is likely to relish the stamina test of the Irish Grand National. He may lack the flashy profile of some rivals, but he is reliable and has been campaigned with this race in mind.
The fact that he is entrusted to Simon Torrens, who has already won on him this season, is a sign of confidence.
In a race that often turns into a war of attrition, Sa Majeste’s toughness could be a decisive asset. He may need to find a little improvement to beat the best of these, but with Mullins’ horses often peaking in the spring, it would be no surprise to see him right in the mix at the business end.
Odds: 14/1
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The Case for a Mullins Winner
Both Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste have clear cases to be made for them, though in different ways.
Quai De Bourbon is the exciting, lightly raced improver and if he stays, he could outclass his rivals.
Sa Majeste is the proven stayer, reliable and tough, who will keep galloping when others have cried enough.
Mullins’ record in the race is formidable, and his ability to target these big handicaps is unmatched.
With the momentum of his Aintree and Ayr triumphs behind him, and the chance to make history as the first trainer to win all three Nationals in the same season, it would be a brave punter to dismiss either of his runners lightly.
Has Any Trainer Won All Three Nationals in the Same Season?
No trainer has ever won the Aintree Grand National, the Scottish Grand National, and the Irish Grand National in the same season.
Red Rum famously won both the Aintree and Scottish Nationals in 1974, but the Irish National has always eluded those seeking the treble.
Mullins is already in uncharted territory, and a win today would set a new benchmark for dominance in National Hunt racing.
Willie Mullins’ achievements this month have already rewritten the record books. His emotional response to Nick Rockett’s Aintree win, with his son Patrick in the saddle, captured the imagination of the sport.
The Scottish National one-two underlined his stable’s depth and stamina reserves. Now, with just two runners, Mullins stands on the brink of a feat that would surely be unmatched for generations.
Conclusion
As the field of 30 lines up for the 2025 Irish Grand National, all eyes will be on Willie Mullins and his two contenders.
Quai De Bourbon, the unexposed novice with a touch of class, and Sa Majeste, the proven stayer with a fighting spirit, carry the hopes of a trainer who has already made history this month.
Victory for either would complete a remarkable treble and confirm Mullins’ place as the pre-eminent National Hunt trainer of his era.
Whether it is the raw talent of Quai De Bourbon or the gritty determination of Sa Majeste, Mullins’ quest for Irish Grand National glory is the story of the day—and perhaps, the story of the season.
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