Mullins: Ireland's national training treasure

Paris: Irish training legend Willie Mullins offered his weary rivals a glimmer of hope when he said he could not do better than that after saddling...

Paris: Irish training legend Willie Mullins offered his weary rivals a glimmer of hope when he said he "could not do better than that" after saddling the 1-2-3 in the Grand National but his son Patrick believes he will never retire.

Mullins junior sparked a rare show of emotion from his father -- he was in floods of tears -- as the amateur jockey rode 33/1 outsider Nick Rockett to victory in the Aintree showpiece this month.

The sweep of the places set up his second successive crowning -- confirmed on Saturday -- as champion British trainer emulating his compatriot, fellow legend Vincent O'Brien.

At 68 Mullins will not enjoy the success O'Brien had on the flat but he will be content if he can capture the race he has yet to win, the one that stops a nation -

Australia's Melbourne Cup