How Many Times Has Willie Mullins Won The Grand National?

As we draw closer to the biggest jumps race in the world, many horse racing fans will be asking – just how many times has Willie Mullins won the Grand National?

Top Irish Trainer Willie Mullins Has Won The Grand National Twice Before

Willie Mullins fired in another ten Cheltenham Festival winners in 2025 – taking is overall tally at the meeting to 113 – and so all eyes will be on the Closutton handler ahead of the three-day Aintree Grand National meeting, which gets under starter’s orders on Thursday 3rd April.

The Grand National is, of course, the pinnacle race at the festival (Saturday 5th April) and having won the race last year with I Am Maximus a lot of focus will be on Willie Mullins to see if he can follow-up.

In total Mullins has won the Grand National twice – 19 years apart.

But, strangely, both returned 7/1 with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.

Maybe come the off time – if he’s got another 7/1 shot – we should all be loading on!

That said, the overall Willie Mullins runs-to-wins ratio in the Grand National isn’t exactly great – more on that below.

Willie Mullins Grabbed His First Grand National Win With Hedgehunter In 2005

You have to go back to 2005 to find the first Willie Mullins Grand National winner – which came with Hedgehunter.

The horse was aged 9 at the time and took up the running after the AP McCoy-ridden Clan Royal was hampered at Bechers by a loose horse.

He remained there for the rest of the race – travelling well and jumping with aplomb – to eventually land the spoils by 14 lengths from Royal Auclair.

Hedgehunter also returned as the 7/1 favourite that year and was the first winning market leader since Earth Summit in 1998.

Grand National Result 2005

Hedgehunter, who was ridden by Ruby Walsh, also ran in the previous seasons Grand National (2004), when falling at the last when a close third. The race that year was won by Amberleigh House.

Hedgehunter’s win also provided jockey Ruby Walsh with his second Grand National win – having landed the prize money in 2000 with Papillon, who was trained by his father Ted Walsh.

These two National successes remained the only two for Ruby Walsh, since he retired in 2019.

Hedgehunter went onto run second in the National in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde. Plus was also 9th in 2007, while his last National appearance came in 2008 aged 12, but was only 13th (of 40) to Comply Or Die.

I Am Maximus Provided Willie Mullins With A Second Grand National Winner In 2024

Willie Mullins had to wait 19 years for his next Grand National winner – which came only last year in 2024.

I Am Maximus, who also landed the Irish National the season before, was ridden by Paul Townend – who was winning the race for the first time.

Aged 8 at the time, I Am Maximus, saw off Delta Work by 7 1/2 lengths in 2024 (watch below) and took the race off the back of a 14-length success in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse a month earlier.

I Am Maximus was also providing top owner JP McManus with his third National win – having won the race in the past with Don’t Push It and Minella Times.

Grand National Result 2024

I Am Maximus Will Return In 2025 To Defend His Grand National Crown

Willie Mullins will be hoping for more Grand National glory with I Am Maximus in 2025 as the current champ will be back to defend his Aintree title.

Now aged 9, the horse will, however, carry 6lbs more with the handicapper hiking him up the ratings. He carried 11st 6lbs in 2024 and will have to try and win the race with topweight of 11st 12lbs in 2025.

But history tells us that he’ll have it all to do – last horse to win with 11st 12lbs or more was the mighty Red Rum in 1974, who shouldered 12st to victory.

However, despite this I Am Maximus has still been installed as one of the 2025 Grand National favourites with the best betting sites in the UK.

I Am Maximus will also be bidding to join other recent Grand National back-to-back winners Tiger Roll and Red Rum.

Willie Mullins Doesn’t Have The Best Overall Grand National Return

Despite having two Grand National wins to his name, the overall Willie Mullins record in the Aintree showcase race it’s great.

Since 2000, Mullins has sent out 61 Grand National runners – which means his two wins gives him a strike-rate of just 3%.

That said, I’m sure there will be many trainers that will still bite his hand off this this return.

The Willie Mullins first Grand National runner came with a horse called Micko’s Dream in 2000.

Unfortunately, the horse fell at the first.

Mullins has also only had six (plus 2 winners) Grand National placed horses – which equates to a 13% placed strike-rate.

Willie Mullins Grand National Winners

Willie Mullins Grand National Placed Horses

2025 Aintree Grand National Race Details

📅Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV

You can see the full 2025 Aintree Grand National Festival race schedule, running order and TV channels.

Willie Mullins Grand National Runners and Entries 2025

See below the Willie Mullins Grand National runners and entries for 2025

Note: The final 2025 Grand National runners will be out on Thursday 3rd April

Grand National Winners (Last 20 Runnings)