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00:00There's a lot of pressure going into a race.
00:02Everything about it gets the adrenaline going.
00:05There are so many improbables.
00:07Anything can happen.
00:09There's nerves, expectation.
00:12The more you win, the more you want to win.
00:14You're thinking about nothing else but what's in front of you.
00:17It's the Grand National and the world is watching.
00:21If you could bottle the adrenaline high we get, you'd be very, very rich.
00:33This season we're set for the most extraordinary, unpredictable drama.
00:37The David Power Jockey's Cup, half a million pounds to the winner.
00:41Everybody is a rival.
00:43The competition is going to be hotter than ever.
00:51It is a very dangerous way to make a living.
00:53I just felt my pelvis break, everything snapped.
00:58Oh no!
01:01To win is the dream.
01:03When you see the winning post, everything slows down.
01:06Go on, Freddie!
01:21At four o'clock this afternoon, hearts will be broken.
01:26But legends will also be made.
01:29Aintree is ready.
01:31What will happen in this year's world's most famous horse race?
01:36The Randox Grand National.
01:41To have a ride in the race like the Grand National,
01:43it's a privilege.
01:44Mass a day in the racing calendar.
01:46To win the Grand National is the dream.
01:51The whole atmosphere is extraordinary.
01:54The butterflies and the anticipation, just crazy.
01:59It is the pinnacle of our sport.
02:01The best horses against each other.
02:03A very, very competitive race.
02:06It's the best and most unpredictable ten minutes in sport.
02:10Plus the fact it's worth a million pounds.
02:13The jumps are bigger.
02:15The distance is longer.
02:18Hang on tight.
02:21Anything can happen.
02:32Where's Em Lexus?
02:33I haven't seen him come up here.
02:35At the start of your career, someone said,
02:37which race would you like to win?
02:38I'd like to win the Grand National.
02:39And I was lucky enough to have won it twice.
02:42And up towards the line, it is I.M. Maximus
02:47who leads home to Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.
02:53The thrill of winning the Grand National with I.M. Maximus
02:57was fantastic.
02:58Any time you have a big win in your life,
03:01you want to do it again.
03:03So in the last hundred years,
03:04there have been three back-to-back winners.
03:06But if anyone's going to do it again,
03:08it'll be Willie Mullins.
03:09Good. That looks good.
03:21I was born in a saddle.
03:23My first memories are just horses, horses, horses.
03:26Did you give him a pick of grass?
03:27Yeah.
03:28OK, do one big.
03:29You know, my father's a trainer.
03:31They picked up knowledge from him over the years
03:33without realizing it.
03:35If I had a problem, I'd say, what would my father do?
03:38Just say, well, he'd have done this, that or the other.
03:41And then it became easier.
03:43Well done.
03:44Racing has great dynasties.
03:46The Mullins is one of the greatest horse racing dynasties.
03:51It goes back three, four generations.
03:53You know, it really is extraordinary.
03:55This is our riding outboard.
03:57Four to five horses for each staff member to ride.
04:00Patrick does that, all that,
04:01which is a tough job matching riders with horses.
04:05Not one that I'd like to do with.
04:07That's why I give it to Patrick.
04:08Feel your ride too big.
04:10Make sure you've got the ties.
04:11Some same way.
04:12Some same way.
04:13Two, yeah.
04:14It's a family business, so Patrick, my son,
04:17is very involved in it.
04:19The assistant trainer here, he helps run the show.
04:23My day-to-day job is being in the yard
04:26and being involved with the horses.
04:28David, he's coming back to you.
04:30I'm assisting my father in training,
04:32basically trying not to get in his way too much.
04:34I'm learning a lot from talking to him and from watching him.
04:37He worked well, didn't he?
04:39Yes, ran on Sunday.
04:40He was doing brilliant.
04:42We would clash on several issues,
04:44but he has this very annoying habit of being right most of the times.
04:47You happy with him?
04:48Yeah, that's fine.
04:49OK.
04:50He's kind of quite old-fashioned in how he trains.
04:52He likes to train on his eye.
04:54That looks good.
04:55Are you going to go up sides, anything?
04:57Yeah.
04:58Being the only son,
04:59it would make sense that at some stage I suppose I'll take over,
05:03but I don't see Willy retiring to the Bahamas anytime soon, no.
05:08That'll do me fine.
05:10Growing up in a yard like that for Patrick,
05:12huge pressure, so much achievement,
05:14but at the same time he'll know how lucky he is too.
05:17Beauty catcher, perfect to me.
05:19As well as looking after the yard in close setting.
05:22Patrick is an amateur jockey, he's a fantastic amateur.
05:25He can't really turn professional because he's too heavy.
05:29I've managed to keep my weight just about right for being an amateur,
05:33but it was never in my head to be a professional jockey.
05:36Well, Alex, your moves OK?
05:39Patrick Mullins is technically an amateur jockey.
05:42He made that choice, I think, for a number of reasons.
05:44He's a big guy and amateurs can be heavier than pros.
05:48The downside is you don't get paid to ride because you're an amateur,
05:52and he has broken every record in terms of amateur status.
05:57I'm 35 now, I'd like to ride as long as I can,
06:00and the dream race is the Grand National.
06:03This will be my sixth Grand National.
06:05My first ride in the National, I fell at Beecher's Brook.
06:08My second ride in the National, I fell at the Chair.
06:10My owner's gone as well.
06:12My third ride in the National, I finished last.
06:14I finished fourth once, that was my best.
06:17Boros 8-4.
06:19Such an iconic race.
06:20To win the Grand National, it's the dream.
06:22To put my name at power of that history would just...
06:26nothing would be better.
06:33This is Nick Rocket.
06:35Riding the National later, so Katie's getting them all rugged up,
06:39and she'll be getting brushed over and ready later.
06:44He's cheeky, but he's enthusiastic.
06:47He enjoys his job.
06:48Nick Rocket's price is 33-1.
06:51When you look through his form, there's bits there.
06:53But look, he's an outsider.
06:55Can he win the Grand National at 33-1?
06:59We love a fairy tale, but that's pushing it.
07:02He's not in the favour, but I have a very good team.
07:07We'll see what happens.
07:09We'll get them all out here now.
07:11Nick Rocket, among six horses for Willie Mullins,
07:13he's got a seriously strong hand.
07:15He's going all out to win it again.
07:17The world is watching on a day the city of Liverpool bursts with pride.
07:26Gates are now open.
07:28Gates are now open.
07:29The Grand National is probably the most watched race worldwide.
07:36Tens of millions of people watching it.
07:39This is the one race, probably, that transcends our sport.
07:44It's our Open, our Wimbledon.
07:46Yeah, it's big.
07:48Best of luck today.
07:49Thank you very much.
07:50Nerves will be kicking in soon.
07:53The job will get nervous.
07:55We've been in early this morning, sorted everything out.
08:00Popping the colours up, getting the saddles ready.
08:02And, yeah, stage is set for the biggest day of the year.
08:05All right, gents.
08:07Hey, up.
08:08He's a man from that trip.
08:10He's fine looking out.
08:11Johnny doesn't even know he's a man from that trip.
08:18All right?
08:19It'll be chaos in the end, but Harry knows what he's doing, all right?
08:22Also in with a good chance of winning the Randox Grand National this year
08:26is Paul Nicholls.
08:27He's throwing plenty at it.
08:28He's the 14-time champion trainer and he's won the race before.
08:32Yeah, yeah, yeah.
08:33You've got to be as close to in the first ten as you can.
08:35Grand National is a meeting I really love.
08:37Just the whole thing, the characters, the people.
08:40But to me, it's the winning.
08:42In 2012, good old Neptune Galantz, 33 to 1, won the National.
08:46If you end up winning that, that makes such a massive difference.
08:51Willy's got a good team to run in the race this year.
08:54Numbers and class.
08:56But my horses will be there on the day to do their best and will be trained to win.
09:01It's a big, long preparation.
09:15A lot of these horses have been trained all season with the Grand National in mind.
09:19In the last couple of years, I don't think we've had a runner.
09:21You've got to have the right horses and just that position.
09:24I think we've probably got horses that are going to go into it with a bit of a chance.
09:27Hey, come on.
09:29I'm running five in the National.
09:31A horse that runs out needs plenty of stamina, plenty of ability and an older horse with plenty of experience.
09:36I think experience helps.
09:38That's stay away Faye.
09:40Been running well this year.
09:41This is brave man's game.
09:42Got a touch of class and that's what you need.
09:44This is 300 through five.
09:46He's in good shape.
09:47This is Hitman.
09:48He looks good.
09:49He's had a great season.
09:50And then we've got Kandu Kidd up there with Harry.
09:53The one that I really think has got a great chance was Kandu Kidd who won the Coral Gold Cup in Newbury back in November.
09:59The horses that win the Coral Gold Cup normally have a good record in the Grand National.
10:04He felt unbelievable.
10:06He's just a lovely horse.
10:08He's very kind and pretty chilled about life.
10:12He'll run a massive race.
10:15I fancy him anyway.
10:17There's not much more we can do between now and Saturday.
10:28Right.
10:29Just take this lot over now this week.
10:31It's not a race.
10:32They don't need to do too much.
10:33Just a good three-quarter speed all the way back together.
10:36Just let them enjoy themselves.
10:38They've all worked hard last week.
10:40This week is exercising and keep them fresh and well and making sure everything's OK.
10:44Do you feel all right, Harry?
10:45Yeah, great.
10:46Kandu Kidd's in some really good shape.
10:49He loved the sunshine.
10:50He loved the ground on Saturday running.
10:52Yeah, very happy with him.
10:53They all look good.
10:55Paul Nichols has got five potential runners in the Grand National, which gives him a bit of a headache and a conundrum trying to find the right jockey for the right horse.
11:02Well, stay away if he runs in the Grand National Saturday.
11:05We can find a jockey.
11:06Three or four days before the race and we haven't got anyone to ride him.
11:09He'd been massively let down.
11:11Bryony had agreed to ride him a month ago, but she's got a really big race.
11:18I asked Johnny Burke.
11:19He said yes.
11:20To ride in a race at the Grand National for Paul was nice.
11:25So I was obviously excited and looking forward to it.
11:28So then I'm dealt with this dilemma of a surreal position on the Monday for the Grand National to get a call from William Mullins.
11:35Jockeys are competitive.
11:38They want to be on the horse with the best chance and that will mean occasionally having to let a trainer down.
11:43I took the easy option and I rang my agent.
11:45I said, I'm sorry, but this one's for you.
11:47You're going to have to ring Paul.
11:49So he made the phone call and to say Paul didn't take it well is to say it lightly, basically.
11:56He went nothing short of mad.
11:59Someone rang him up and said, sorry, I've accepted a ride.
12:03That's all you do.
12:04Yeah, yeah.
12:05You know, I can get asked again.
12:07Right.
12:08It's something that Paul Nichols would have never encountered before.
12:11Yeah, I can see why he lost the plot.
12:14I just don't like letting the owner stand.
12:16That's the thing.
12:17You don't like messing people about.
12:26Grand National Day at Aintree.
12:33Get ready, everybody, for unscripted, captivating drama.
12:41It's a race that makes legends, but also shatters dreams.
12:46Have a good day.
12:47Aintree, we love going there.
12:50There's lunches and pretty good parties.
12:53It's just really good fun.
12:55Good luck with all your runners and everything today.
12:57This is going to sound totally bizarre, but Sam Queck, a gold medal winning hockey player,
13:01she's just announced live on air that you're her celebrity crush.
13:04Ollie Bell came up to me and said, listen, I've got a bit of a request.
13:09Get in there.
13:10Nicky, I love you.
13:11That's Aintree.
13:12I can't believe you came over.
13:14Well, I wouldn't miss this for the world.
13:16The sort of thing that wouldn't happen at Cheltenham because probably you're being too serious.
13:20Right, today's the day.
13:22Today's the day.
13:23Right.
13:24Absolutely.
13:25This is Highland, Nicky Henderson's best chance in a long time.
13:29Highland, who's a young horse, but doing very, very well and is on the up.
13:33If he learns a bit from this year and wins it next year, that'll be fine.
13:36A knicker will be riding him.
13:39If you torch me, I'll drag you up.
13:42Governor's record in the Grand National has been a bit hit and miss.
13:47I know that he'd love to win it.
13:49It's a race that's evaded him.
13:51Have a lovely day.
13:53And you.
13:54You have a good day.
13:55Back a winner.
13:56It won't be mine.
13:57We've never won the Grand National.
14:00For 45 years, something goes wrong.
14:02But if your luck goes your way, you've always got that little chance.
14:07Foyne-Avon, the Foyne-Avon year.
14:10And now with all this mayhem, Foyne-Avon has gone off on his own.
14:14A complete outsider won by a complete fluke.
14:19Foyne-Avon wins the National.
14:20But that is the Grand National.
14:21It's what it can do.
14:23The Grand National is the people's race because of the small man, the underdog theme.
14:30And if you train a winner at the National, or you ride a winner at the National, it's life-changing.
14:35Hey, bubs.
14:37Cheeky boy.
14:38He's got a bit of shine to it.
14:40Grand, yeah.
14:41We're all happy.
14:42Get his head settled.
14:44Just put the saddle on the horse.
14:46And that, for me, was probably the one time where you actually take a deep breath.
14:50You get a bit of a tingle and you're proud of yourself.
14:53And I think that's probably the first time I'd ever said to myself that I was proud of myself.
14:56Normal Warren Hill grass.
15:03Just drop to the back on her and look after her a little bit, OK?
15:07And she can do a normal at Warren Hill grass.
15:09So I predominantly train flat horses.
15:12We're based in Newmarket here, which is home of flat racing.
15:15Who's this, Harriet?
15:16I'm just starting off as a trainer in this industry.
15:19I've only been going for five months.
15:21We've had a fantastic start.
15:23Flat horses are running well and we've had eight winners now.
15:25Up the farm, please.
15:27Just steady with him.
15:28Up the farm.
15:29I'm not from a wealthy family by any means.
15:31When I left school, I was working on a building site.
15:34Being from an Irish family, horse racing was always in the background growing up.
15:38And I got hooked on this idea of training horses.
15:41Go round the golf course canter.
15:43Just literally a hat cantered.
15:44When I set my sights on something, I want to try and get to the highest level.
15:50Oh, you rug slip, buddy.
15:52Come here.
15:53What have you done?
15:54Horan Zouderi is an absolute dude.
15:57You couldn't have asked for an easier horse to train.
16:00He does have a bit of a sensitive side to him.
16:03Yeah, he's a real character.
16:05He knows how to show off for the cameras.
16:07The owner of Horan Zouderi, we were at the races one day and he said to me,
16:11he's going to try and buy this horse in the sale, four weeks away from the Grand National.
16:15He was trained by Willie Mullins, but we were more surprised when we got him for 50 grand.
16:20And I suppose your initial worries are, what's wrong with the horse?
16:23Have we missed something?
16:24He was in our yard quite recently, but you know, it's a very difficult race.
16:29He just wasn't quite up to the level of ability that we wanted.
16:33Well, you take the risk that your horse will come back to bite you, but you can't keep every horse.
16:39You know, you've got to turn them over and try and get younger horses and hope that you might find a better one.
16:44Most of our horses live on a straw bed, but we felt he was a little bit sensitive.
16:50So we've moved him onto the wood shavings.
16:52When he came over from Willie Mullins, he had a pretty nasty lung infection.
16:55There was a small percentage of me that was worried we might not get him to the Grand National.
17:00After his first serious piece of work for us, we had to have the vet look at him.
17:05Hello, darling.
17:06When he did arrive, he was maybe a little bit flat, a little bit tired.
17:10But now he's dragging us around the canters, he's got a bit of spark in him, a bit of life in him.
17:15Willie Mullins sold to Ranzo Derry.
17:18He didn't sell him because he thought he'd win the National.
17:20It's brilliantly bonkers.
17:22I know we throw out some stories in the National, but this will be a big one.
17:27Horacean Dory, I think, is his name, but I'm not very good at French, to be honest.
17:31I struggle with English a little bit.
17:34We're lucky to have Ciaran Gethin's riding the horse, an experienced jockey.
17:38Ciaran has never sat on him before in a race, but he's been heavily involved in helping us prepare him for the race.
17:44Horacean Derry has never jumped a Grand National fence, so obviously that's something we need to teach him.
17:50It's a big fence. It's a fair old task for a horse to get over.
17:54Going to take some jumping. It'll be good.
17:57I'll let you decide how much you want to do with him.
18:00Yeah, if he jumps twice, I'll be happy, to be honest.
18:03It's very important this schooling session goes very well.
18:06If he doesn't take to it, probably he's not ready for the Grand National.
18:13So not only are they giving it plenty of height, they've got to give it plenty of length as well.
18:16So you've got to be a real athlete to be able to get over it.
18:20Here we go, yeah.
18:30We've got over it nicely.
18:32It's not small, is it?
18:34Fucking not small.
18:37You can get off the ground, all right, Guy?
18:40Ciaran said he's come alive since the last riding.
18:43How are you doing?
18:44I'm very happy.
18:45Good.
18:46He's a different animal than two weeks ago.
18:47Yeah, he is. He's really come on, isn't he?
18:50Hi, Jim. He's flew over the fence there.
18:53Listen, whether it's enough to win a Grand National, I don't know, but we'll give it a bloody good go.
19:05Where are we going to go?
19:06Go out there and whatever big screen I can see it on, I'm going to stand and watch it.
19:10Crazy atmosphere for that Grand National parade.
19:13You know, Paul Nichols has stood on one side and William Mullins is across the way.
19:17And just to be there is amazing.
19:19It was a privilege and just a fantastic day and we want more of it.
19:23Thanks.
19:27I'm competitive in the sense that I want to win, but I'm not competitive in the sense that I want to beat a certain person.
19:34Hello, everyone.
19:35Very good. How are you?
19:36Very well indeed.
19:37I just like getting my horses to run well for their owners and seeing the joy they get out of it.
19:44There's plenty more to find, isn't there?
19:46Plenty more, yeah.
19:47I just want one like him, really.
19:49Yeah.
19:50There's an element, a mystery about it.
19:52When you buy a young horse, what might it be? What could it win? And it's just something that I developed a passion for.
20:03I'd gone to the sales with my wife, Sadie, to look for a mare for Sadie and Sadie had got chatting to Willie.
20:12It transpired that we went to the same national school together. Did our first communion together and we just started talking about old times.
20:20On the way home at night, she said, why don't we ask Willie if he'll train a horse for us? I said, well, ring him up.
20:26All for the want of just going and having a cup of tea and a chat. We end up with a fantastic horse. Got it. Well done.
20:34Nick Rocket, so laid back, you'd think he were asleep all the time. He's very light-framed, but tough as old boots.
20:43First time he ran for us was, sadly, five days before Sadie passed away with terminal cancer.
20:51Willie hadn't actually got the horse fit to run, but he ran him so that Sadie could see him run.
20:58We knew she didn't have a lot of time left, really.
21:02Dr Bravo wins the Willie Elliott Memorial.
21:05He finished fourth, then Willie had a chat with Sadie after the race and said, don't worry, he will win next time he runs.
21:12And they did.
21:13Nick Rocket on the stand side for Willie Mallins.
21:17The one who had been so full of life the last time I met her, to get ill and pass away so quickly, it's just life isn't fair.
21:27Every time Nick Rocket runs, Sadie is right there in the middle of it.
21:33Her name stood on the car with the horse as the owner. I mean, that's just magic.
21:38And to be riding Nick Rocket is an honour, yeah.
21:43Sadie loved Nick Rocket.
21:45I know ultimately, I should have absolutely revelled in the occasion.
21:50I'm going and getting a new outfit and talking to all the friends, and I should have loved it.
21:55A little over a hundred minutes and counting to the Randox Grand National.
22:08Candu Kidd, 22 to 1, I take that price, that will be shorter.
22:12Nick Rocket, ridden by the only amateur of the race.
22:1425 to 1, I am Maximus, his favourite to win the race for the second consecutive year, 7 to 1.
22:20Paul Townend will ride him again.
22:23Paul has been fantastic all season, riding out of his skin.
22:27I have the privilege of picking between the majority of Willie's horses.
22:35Nick Rocket has won all the big trials for the race.
22:39Big, big ride, but can I ride him out with the chance I am Maximus has of winning?
22:44No, definitely not.
22:46Here's the reigning champ, it's I am Maximus.
22:49Can he do it? Who knows?
22:53I am Maximus has won the Irish Grand National.
22:57He's won the Grand National last year.
23:00He's gone there in good form.
23:03He's a big, big chance again.
23:05Paul Townend has had some incredible successes with Willie Mullins.
23:09He's Willie Mullins' number one stable jockey.
23:12Defeat is not in his vocabulary.
23:14When you're growing up, the big green fences, Aintree,
23:17it's where you want to win and it does have that feeling that it's special.
23:23The million pound question, can you win a second one?
23:25We'll give it a rattle.
23:28Success keeps me motivated.
23:31Because you've experienced it, you know how high the highs are.
23:35Paul is hugely competitive.
23:37We're very close, we're good friends,
23:39but he's still a rival to me once we're on the track anyway.
23:43You sit alongside the person you're trying to beat.
23:45And between the Mullins team, it's everyone for themselves.
23:49Some stage. All are looking to win the people's race.
23:51Oh, Willie, come on again.
23:52You met Tansy.
23:53I met your better half the other day.
23:54Ready? One, two, three.
23:55The Grand National is the race that everyone in the sport wants to win,
23:56plus the fact that it can have a huge impact on the trainer's title.
24:02All are looking to win the people's race.
24:10Oh, Willie, come on again.
24:11You've met Tansy.
24:12I met your better half the other day.
24:15The Grand National is the race that everyone in the sport wants to win,
24:19plus the fact it can have a huge impact on the trainer's title.
24:23To be champion trainer is not about the number of wins you have,
24:25it's about the amount of prize money you can accumulate over the season.
24:30With the Grand National worth nearly a million pounds,
24:33and half a million pounds to the winner, it's always going to be pivotal.
24:39All season, pretty much, we thought, Dan's got this.
24:43Going into the Grand National, Willie Mullins is over a million pounds
24:46behind Dan Skelton in the race to be champion trainer.
24:50But Dan Skelton hasn't got a runner in the race.
24:53We just don't have a horse for the Grand National this year.
24:57I could run four, I could run five,
24:58but they're just not suitable horses for this race.
25:03I am worried that my two biggest rivals in the trainers' championship
25:07have got a third of the runners here between them,
25:09but there's a good chunk of prize money available.
25:11I think going into the National,
25:13we're probably about a million behind Dan.
25:15I think we really need a miracle to happen.
25:18We just need everything to go right,
25:19and that doesn't happen in the National.
25:21I thought Maximus would just win it again, but...
25:24Well, we all thought that when he crossed the line last year,
25:26but he's got to carry 12 stone,
25:28he's got to do it again,
25:30and I'll click it around.
25:30Let's face it, you're going to find any negative with Mullins.
25:33Yeah, ask me another one, I'll tell you why that can't win.
25:35All right, what's up?
25:36I'm not saying I am a numbers man, but you've got to be looking at it.
25:40Dan's about £850,000 in front of us,
25:43so, you know, I need to win the National,
25:45have a good entry meeting to close it again.
25:47Ruby keeps the mile, he ain't running him enough,
25:49he won't be fit enough, and I thought, fuck off.
25:52I think he'll handle the ground.
25:54And Willie's got six.
25:55Good luck, though.
25:56And Paul's got five.
25:59They are definitely going to take something out of this race,
26:03it's just a question of how much.
26:06Well, the owners of a can-do kid aren't here,
26:13he's in Barbados watching it.
26:15So, Paul Nicholls has had a very uncharacteristic,
26:18tricky time with jockeys in the build-up to the race.
26:21Johnny Burke says, yeah, love to ride your horse, sir,
26:24but within 24 hours,
26:25he thinks he gets a better offer from Willie Mullins,
26:28and he jumps ship.
26:30Get a good start and then see what's happening.
26:31Yeah, I reckon when I sat in the other morning,
26:33I felt like I was going to give him a good gun up there.
26:36It's been interesting,
26:37sorting out who was going to ride a stairway fair,
26:40but we went for Paul O'Brien.
26:41I've got lots of confidence in him,
26:43the owners have, he knows the horse.
26:45I've got a fantastic team.
26:47Can-do kid, who I said is our best chances,
26:49obviously, ridden by Harry Cobden.
26:51It's all about mindset.
26:53You have to be incredibly selfish.
26:55Just do what's right for yourself
26:56and be pretty ruthless about how you go about it,
26:59because it doesn't get any better than the Grand National.
27:0629 here.
27:07This is Horzantu Dori.
27:10His trainer, Michael Keady,
27:12has never trained a winner over fences.
27:14Imagine if he does it here.
27:17I think there is an element of me
27:19being the new kid on the block
27:20and it turns up in the Grand National
27:21and a few eyebrows raised,
27:23but really I'm relying on my experience
27:26to prove him wrong.
27:30I've never ridden Horzantu Dori in a race before,
27:33so I've got a few butterflies.
27:36The atmosphere in the weigh-room
27:37is definitely on edge.
27:39A few people quieter than normal.
27:41There's a lot at stake for a lot of the jockeys, yeah.
27:45I'm so hot.
27:47James, can you mop my brows?
27:48Hold on.
27:49Charles, I've heard him.
27:50There's a time and a place
27:52for mocking about and having a laugh,
27:54but once you're out there,
27:55you're being paid to do a job.
27:57I'd love to win the Grand National,
27:58not just for myself,
27:59but for the governor.
28:02Gary, yes.
28:03And of course, Bob.
28:04Bob, yeah.
28:05Eddie.
28:06Willie.
28:06I never believed in destiny,
28:08but I met Willie through Sadie
28:10and obviously Nick Rocket.
28:12That's what she left me with.
28:14For me to carry on
28:15and have a life after Sadie had passed away,
28:18just before the race,
28:19I'm kind of thinking,
28:21is this happening?
28:22Are we here?
28:35Now comes the moment
28:39as the jockeys make their way out.
28:42Patrick Mullins running for his dad
28:44on Nick Rocket.
28:45You're trying to stay calm,
28:46but at the same time,
28:47you're rearing to go.
28:49Ooh, this is hold on to your hot weather.
28:51So six horses for Willie Mullins
28:53going for back-to-back Grand Nationals.
28:56Paul Townend will come out with the trophy.
29:00Big atmosphere out there.
29:01Feel all that anticipation.
29:02As a defending champion,
29:05I'm feeling the pressure,
29:06so it's going to be tough.
29:10If you run my attention,
29:12watch me.
29:12If I don't know what it is.
29:14If I popped it,
29:15then you just pop in.
29:16Do it, dude.
29:18Sorry, no man.
29:19Now, plan A.
29:20A nice start.
29:21Over the first couple.
29:22That's it.
29:22Get away and hopefully no part of the right horse.
29:24Okay, let's get on board.
29:26We've got to get our tactics right.
29:28Tactics that complement one another
29:30rather than compete.
29:33What's the point in two horses going out
29:35doing the same thing
29:36and ruining each other's chances?
29:39Best of luck.
29:41Freddie, one thing.
29:42Just enjoy yourself.
29:43Ride it to run well, all right?
29:44Exactly. Perfect.
29:45Get in the rhythm
29:45and start passing horses.
29:47Yeah.
29:47I've tried to give my lad's advice
29:49as to what I think.
29:50Each horse is different,
29:51so you ride your own horse accordingly.
29:53No point in saying follow this or follow that
29:54because you do then that could end up upside down.
29:57You do what you think, all right?
29:59Right.
29:59Right.
30:04And he's kicking out Brave Man's Game.
30:06Walking out Brave Man's Game in front of us
30:08got a little claustrophobic,
30:10so there's a bit of a bottleneck
30:11and Nick Rocket starts to get a little bit anxious.
30:14You don't want to get caught up there
30:15and get the horse getting too nervous.
30:18It just shows you that it's even before the race
30:20you can start running into trouble
30:21when it comes to Aintry.
30:22Yeah, welcome to Aintry,
30:25which is in a fever pitch of excitement
30:27as the 30-footer runners are assembling down at the start.
30:30Ready to rush and roll.
30:31Start is organised chaos.
30:33Steady on, lad.
30:34Push over.
30:36Horses everywhere,
30:37trying to form a line.
30:39Everyone's on edge.
30:40The noise is incredible.
30:44We cantered down to the first jump,
30:46show it to him,
30:47so he realised what was coming.
30:49A run's scary.
30:50That's, like, a run's scary.
30:52I see a little slot beside Harry Cobden.
30:54I slot in beside him.
30:56Everyone is fired up
30:57because they know what they've got ahead of them.
30:59The intensity of it.
31:01Yeah, it's not for the faint-hearted.
31:03Push over, lads.
31:04Keep going over.
31:05I want to be in the middle.
31:07The line turns,
31:08I kind of needle him.
31:09That's great.
31:09I'm right where I want to be now.
31:11Go and go.
31:13Keep up going.
31:14Go for there.
31:16Go.
31:16We're going to have to go and watch somebody else win it.
31:21I'll be cheering on quite a few of the other trainers,
31:23not all of them.
31:26Give me a second.
31:27One second.
31:30Go on.
31:33They're away for the first time.
31:36As it rates towards the first,
31:37Ion Maximus is one of those towards the inside.
31:39Ion Maximus gets a brilliant start.
31:42He remembers where he is.
31:43He thinks, right, this is good.
31:48Go down to the first
31:48and I can feel Haressandori
31:50noticing this is different today.
31:53He has a good look at the first
31:54and he's over the first.
31:57That's a big sigh of relief.
32:03You're thinking about nothing else,
32:05but what's it for you?
32:05You're going into the unknown, you know?
32:12My mindset in a race like this
32:14is fence by fence.
32:15Save energy.
32:16Rhythm.
32:17Can do kid right up there.
32:18Your mind is on all the surroundings.
32:21The horses.
32:22Am I following the right one?
32:23Does that one jump right in front of you?
32:26You get the old faller next to you.
32:29Brush flying everywhere.
32:31A lot of things can go wrong.
32:32So on towards the fence
32:36before beaches.
32:37The most important horse
32:38I'm watching is Nick Rocket.
32:40My son is riding him.
32:42Any father, any mother
32:43would be looking at their son
32:44to make sure nothing goes wrong
32:46in the race.
32:48They've got a sensible pace.
32:50Nick Rocket travelling nicely.
32:53Jumping at speed
32:55when you do it right,
32:56that is the biggest buzz.
32:57I can tell Nick Rocket
32:59has realised that the fences
33:00are different
33:02but that they're soft
33:03that he can jump through
33:04the top of them.
33:05This is a big field.
33:07Everyone is quite hyped
33:08but we've got a good start.
33:09We've got a good position.
33:11Anything can happen.
33:13And Highland
33:14gets in closer too.
33:15Yeah, Nicky Henderson
33:16hasn't won this race
33:17but he's got a chance
33:18with Highland.
33:20The union between jockey and horse
33:22is incredibly important.
33:24I believe it is an art form.
33:25It's about conserving energy.
33:30It's trying to be efficient
33:31at your obstacles.
33:32It's trying to save your run
33:33for the right time.
33:37I think we might have as many
33:38as 32 still standing
33:39at this stage.
33:40I was hoping Paul
33:41would be going a bit better.
33:43I am Maxwell.
33:44It's just been kept back
33:45at the moment.
33:46I'm slipping back
33:47through the field a little bit.
33:48He's not carrying me
33:49as well as he did last year.
33:51Everything will never go
33:53perfect in a race.
33:54The worst thing you can do
33:55is panic.
33:56They make their way
33:57up towards the chair.
33:58Probably further back
33:59than I'd like them to be.
34:01Coming down to the chair
34:02of the big prince
34:02was very difficult.
34:04The crowd roaring
34:05but you literally
34:07cannot hear anything.
34:09You're just thinking
34:09about your horse
34:11and the obstacle
34:12in front of you
34:13and getting over it.
34:14They all stepped
34:16went over it.
34:19You can hear the crowd
34:20roaring them on their way
34:21as they come to the water
34:23and still so many
34:25in the race.
34:28Towards the outside
34:29is Toronzo Derry.
34:30We're in about
34:31six or seven inches.
34:33He's going beautifully.
34:34He's gone further
34:35into the race
34:35than I thought
34:36he was going to
34:36and he looks to be
34:37absolutely loving it.
34:38Just gone halfway
34:42he's absolutely cruising.
34:45I cannot believe
34:46how well he's going.
34:47He's bang up
34:48with the leaders
34:49not running
34:49like a hundred to one shot.
34:51Definitely feeling
34:52like we're out running
34:53our odds at this stage.
34:54Here he is
34:55absolutely tanking
34:56up the front
34:56just starting to let myself
34:58dream a little bit here.
34:59Iron Maximus
35:00is going the shortest way round.
35:02My eye keeps
35:03being drawn back to Paul.
35:04You can see him
35:05just waiting and waiting
35:06to make that decisive move.
35:08As we head out
35:09in the second circuit
35:10I'm hoping
35:11my eye maximum
35:12is going to come alive.
35:13I can't afford
35:14for anything to go wrong.
35:22As they continue
35:23on their way
35:24there are plenty
35:25in going
35:25very well at the moment.
35:28Going into the second circuit
35:29all six of
35:30Willie Mullins' horses
35:31are still in contention
35:32as are the five though
35:33for Paul Nichols.
35:35Kandu Kidd
35:36are starting to creep
35:37into it.
35:39He is you and he is.
35:39He's got a great lead.
35:40Come on!
35:41My record in the Grand National
35:43is pretty terrible.
35:44I've only completed twice.
35:47But this year
35:48Kandu Kidd,
35:48I generally think
35:49he's got a good chance.
35:52Ruling race over
35:53a marathon distance
35:55takes a lot of grit
35:56and guts to win.
35:58I'm travelling nicely.
35:59I'm following
36:00Iron Maximus
36:01who is obviously
36:01the favourite.
36:02and Kandu Kidd
36:04is half taking
36:04his eye off the fence.
36:10Landed steep
36:11but we were going down.
36:14Kandu Kidd is a faller.
36:15My race was over.
36:17Momentum takes over
36:18and so too does gravity
36:19unfortunately.
36:20The race is over
36:21and the blink of an eye
36:23gutted.
36:24It was sad
36:26because he was travelling
36:26ever so well.
36:28He's fine.
36:29Paul Nicholls
36:30has taken a big hit
36:31at fence 21.
36:32We were only going
36:33backwards weren't we?
36:34Harry Cobden out
36:35and now two of his
36:37other runners
36:37have pulled up.
36:39Folks hey?
36:40The signs are ominous
36:41that it's not going
36:42to be our day.
36:49Coming to the canal turn.
36:51The canal turn
36:52and because you're
36:52taking that fence
36:53at an angle
36:53anything can happen
36:54horses on your inside
36:55outside
36:55but Nick Rocket
36:56just launches at it.
36:59It was the biggest
37:00jump we put in
37:00the whole race
37:01and I thought to myself
37:02we've got plenty
37:04under the bonnet here.
37:06Naya Maximus
37:07has got quite a lot
37:08of work to do
37:08from where he is
37:09and Nick Rocket
37:10has also got to
37:11pick up quite a lot
37:12of ground.
37:12You can hear the horse
37:13breathe and you're
37:14listening to him
37:14making sure he's
37:15breathing right
37:16while watching
37:17ten different things
37:19happening in front of you.
37:20It's amazing
37:21and it is addictive.
37:23This is the third
37:24from home.
37:25Boport got very low.
37:27The leaders have
37:28just gone a little
37:29bit away from us
37:30but anything can
37:31happen here.
37:32It's the Grand
37:33National at the end
37:33of the day.
37:34As I jump
37:42the canal turn
37:42for the second time
37:43I can feel
37:44Highland beginning
37:45to tire
37:45and once I get
37:46up to the
37:47Melling Road
37:47I knew it was
37:48time to pull up.
37:49Highland doesn't
37:50seem to be enjoying
37:50himself and he's
37:51out of the race.
37:53You're pulling up
37:53so that he can
37:54go and race another
37:55day.
37:56I was a bit gutted
37:57that it was all over
37:58but I was incredibly
37:59proud of my horse.
38:00As always if you
38:02don't win it's
38:03disappointing but
38:04you've got to keep
38:05trying.
38:05I am Maximus is actually
38:09just getting a little
38:10bit closer now
38:11starting to get
38:12serious.
38:13I notice Paul coming
38:15towards the outside and
38:17once he gets clear air
38:19in front of him he
38:20starts to pick up and
38:21go well.
38:22I can see Nick Rocket in
38:23front of me.
38:24If I can get onto his
38:25tail he might bring me
38:26into the race.
38:27I am Maximus is
38:28hanging in there and
38:29once we're hanging in
38:30there we have a chance.
38:34You're looking trying to
38:35see who else might win.
38:37Some people play it
38:37like Jess.
38:38You might move here to
38:39get someone to move
38:39there.
38:40Sometimes it's poker.
38:41You might be bluffing
38:42someone.
38:42You can try to get
38:43someone to go earlier
38:44or wait longer than
38:44they want.
38:45Now we're 6 or 7,
38:468, 9, 10 in with
38:47chances here.
38:48I am Maximus getting
38:49closer.
38:50Nick Rocket 2.
38:52We spread out
38:53down to the second
38:53last.
38:54I get a bit of
38:55daylight and I can see
38:56now I'm only 2
38:57inches off the heaters
38:57and I'm thinking
38:57perfect.
38:59A lot of the horses
38:59are crying off now
39:00and I know Max can
39:02stay so it's all about
39:03keeping the tempo
39:04strong and keeping
39:05breathing, keeping
39:05jump.
39:06I am Maximus down
39:08the outside.
39:08Nick Rocket travelling
39:09well.
39:10Then Tuick and
39:11behind the Ziroco.
39:12Two out in the
39:12national.
39:13I am Maximus coming
39:14there with Nick
39:15Rocket.
39:16Manela Kakuna,
39:17Grange Clare West
39:17meeting up the waters
39:19and down towards the
39:19last.
39:20From the second last
39:21tome it looked like
39:22it's between three or
39:23four of our horses.
39:24I am Maximus.
39:25Score it in.
39:25Score it in.
39:26Score it in.
39:27Score it in.
39:28Score it in.
39:29Score it in.
39:29Score it in.
39:30Score it in.
39:30Score it in.
39:31Score it in.
39:31Does history beckon for
39:32Poole Townend.
39:33Looks over to his left.
39:34He's got a huge
39:35charge here.
39:36I am Maximus
39:36comes up from my
39:37outside.
39:38I know it's Paul now
39:38because I can see the
39:39white hat.
39:40The minute he does
39:40that my horse picks up
39:42with him.
39:42Down towards the last.
39:43I am Maximus on the
39:44outside of Nick Rocket.
39:46They head towards the
39:47elbow.
39:48Nick Rocket.
39:49It's I am Maximus.
39:50It's not finished yet.
39:54I am Maximus
39:55bidding to retain his
39:57crowd.
39:57So I'm thinking,
39:58hoping, praying that
40:00when we swing off the
40:01elbow like last year
40:02I'll take off.
40:03It's nip and tuck
40:04between these two.
40:06You've just got to put
40:07yourself in the right
40:07position and hope that
40:09you get the bounce at
40:10the ball.
40:10Nick Rocket.
40:11Blanching, bravely
40:12holding on.
40:13Just as they round the
40:14elbow, I am Maximus
40:15edges ahead.
40:16And I think the dream
40:21was my son winning the
40:22national.
40:22It was over.
40:24But I was thinking of my
40:26son.
40:26I wasn't thinking of
40:27winning the national.
40:29Patrick Mullins trying to
40:30see off I am Maximus.
40:32This is a kick in top
40:34gear.
40:37He's down to put away
40:38here.
40:40I'm looking for the
40:41finish line, but it's so
40:42far away.
40:43I am Maximus trying,
40:45training.
40:46To get upsides, I am
40:48Maximus has given me
40:49absolutely everything.
40:52Up towards the final,
40:53150 yards.
40:55I'm looking for a
40:56shadow.
40:56I'm looking for something
40:57coming on my outside.
40:58And I'm thinking, please
40:59don't get beat now when
41:00we're this close.
41:02Nick Rocket hanging top,
41:04I am Maximus.
41:04I'm waiting for someone
41:05to come and shatter the
41:06dream.
41:07And up towards the line,
41:09it's Nick Rocket's grand
41:10national for amateur
41:12Patrick Mullins.
41:13I can't believe it.
41:17You know, when he passes
41:18the winning post, I'm
41:18trying to breathe.
41:20And all these other
41:21thoughts flooding my
41:22mind.
41:24Wish my mother was here,
41:25wish my father was here,
41:27sharing in the joy of it
41:29all.
41:31It's just the ultimate.
41:32I stood up and smiled.
41:34A smile of just pure
41:35happiness, yeah.
41:37I mean, just extraordinary.
41:39A father and son combination
41:40to win the grand national is
41:42something else.
41:42congratulated him and, yeah,
41:46you're just envious of that
41:48feeling because you've been
41:49there before.
41:50It is a team, but you want
41:54to be the one holding the
41:55trophy.
41:56Doron Sue Derry, finishing in
42:0213th, but that in itself is a
42:04great achievement.
42:06We were dreaming.
42:07Unfortunately, the distance was
42:09just a little bit too far for
42:10him, but genuinely never felt so
42:12proud for a horse in my life.
42:15This is extraordinary.
42:18We've got the winning owner
42:19here, so emotional.
42:20Well done, well done.
42:22I had a feeling that he'd win.
42:24I don't know why, but I was
42:26just so confident.
42:29My late wife said, oh, she
42:31were there, yeah.
42:33She'd have been laughing and
42:34crying and jumping up and
42:36down, but she'd have been
42:38ecstatic over it.
42:41Stuart handled it together
42:42rather than really well.
42:43He could just see the pure
42:44enjoyment about it.
42:50Willie, that was Summer's
42:52out.
42:52Some result, yeah.
42:53You can see the players
42:54told she started to come back
42:55in.
42:57Matt starts asking me all these
42:58questions.
42:58I just can't answer.
42:59I can't open my mouth.
43:00I'm just too emotionally gone at
43:03this stage.
43:04Yeah, I will.
43:05Be able to leg or something.
43:08Willie, take a moment.
43:11It's the first time ever that I
43:12would step for words.
43:15I should be able to win it.
43:16It's just unbelievable.
43:17We'll come back in a minute,
43:18Willie.
43:18Yeah.
43:19Yeah.
43:19I've just become very
43:21emotional, I suppose the word.
43:24I meet with my father, and I
43:26was as amazed as anyone at the
43:27reaction.
43:29He doesn't really get like that.
43:31It really added to the occasion
43:31for me, and obviously made me a bit
43:33emotional.
43:34Yeah, I mean, look, every son wants
43:35to make their father proud, so it
43:37was just very special, yeah.
43:38I can't see myself topping that
43:47achievement, especially for Patrick.
43:49And I felt like, like any dad or
43:52parent did on a day, that your kid
43:54has just won.
43:56All that pride came out, just burst
44:00out.
44:03I didn't realise how well the race
44:05had gone until we got back into the
44:07way room, where someone said we're
44:08first, second, third, fifth, and
44:11seventh.
44:14Then we were trying to add up how
44:16much money that was going to be for
44:17the trainers' championship.
44:19The drinks are on belly!
44:21For Willie Mullins to accumulate
44:23over £860,000 in one jumps race, I
44:28don't think it'll ever be matched.
44:30Willie Mullins, Leapfrogs Paul
44:32Nichols and Nicky Henderson is now
44:33second in the trainers' championship.
44:35He was over a million pounds behind
44:37Dan Skelton at the start of the
44:38day, but now he's closed the gap to
44:40less than £140,000.
44:42Do you know what you have behind
44:43now?
44:43What?
44:44£140,000, £140,000 behind.
44:46Is it all?
44:47Our horses have to keep going without
44:48replay from Dan.
44:49And now we're in with a shot.
44:51Very well done.
44:52Thank you very much.
44:53What a day, eh?
44:54For him to just go and take out
44:56that much prize money in one race,
44:58he's deflating when you think,
45:00you know, you've worked hard all
45:01season to build up a lead that's,
45:03you know, you hopefully can
45:04protect.
45:05You start thinking, how did we ever
45:07get to this position?
45:08But you ain't won it until you
45:10won it.
45:11And we ain't won it, yeah.
45:13It's all to play for.
45:14And what a season finale it's
45:17going to be.
45:17This is it.
45:19Who will win the trainers'
45:20championship?
45:21We're still in with a chance.
45:22We fight to the very end.
45:23We've got this far.
45:24We've got to keep focused.
45:27Who knows?
45:27Maybe it comes down to the last
45:28race.
45:29The script is not written yet.
45:31It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:33This could happen.
45:35They've got 100 yards to go.
45:37Which way will it go?
45:38It's game, set, and match.
45:40It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:42It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:43It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:44It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:45It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:46It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:47It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:48It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:49It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:50It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:51It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:52It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:53It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:54It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:55It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:56It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:57It's time to have a goal at winning.
45:58It's time to have a goal at winning.
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47:51
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