Mullins harbours thoughts of writing name in history

Apr 5 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

TOM MULLINS won’t predict anything, but he is hoping to add his name to the many Irish family dynasties to have conquered Aintree’s famous race.

Carberry, Walsh and Taaffe are all famous families whose names are etched in the history of the John Smith’s Grand National.

Chelsea Harbour will be his first ever runner in the 4m4f marathon and Mullins dreams of following in the footsteps of brother Willie – who claimed National glory with Hedgehunter three years ago.

Tom took over the reins at his father Paddy’s stable three years ago and tasted Aintree success on National Day with Asian Maze’s victory a year later in the Aintree Hurdle.

The 43-year-old believes Chelsea Harbour deserves to take his chance this afternoon. He said: “It’s so far so good. The horse has been doing everything right and he’s in very good form.

“I’ve never had a runner in the National before, but I’ve only been training three or four years. It would be unbelievable to win it. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do ever since I knew horses.

“I can’t even contemplate winning it though – I just like going there. It would be too good to be true to win it, so I’m not even thinking about it.

“I just want to get the horse there in one piece and everything to go right on the day. If we got over the first couple of fences we might have a good chance. The trip would be no problem and he is in great form after his last run.

“His owner Paul Duffin, a Waterford man, is very keen. That’s why we’ve not gone for the Irish National. He’s been with me from the start and has 10 or 12 horses with me.

“The training has been going well, but when I took over from my father I thought it would be easier than it was.”

Mullins’ father trained the famous mare Dawn Run, the only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he never won the National in 53 years he had a licence.

Mullins said: “He had several runners in the race, but never had one placed. He did train Nicolaus Silver for a while before Fred Rimell won the National with him in 1961.

“The first National I remember was Red Rum beating Crisp in 1973 and then L’Escargot winning in 1975, but the first one I saw live was Rubstic in 1979.”