Update: Grand National winner Patrick Mullins suspended and misses out on prize money News

Patrick Mullins was suspended for eight days after landing the 2025 Grand National on Nick Rockett for his father Willie Mullins at Aintree

Patrick Mullins, the 2025 Grand National champion, has been handed an eight-day suspension for overuse of the whip during his Aintree victory.

Mullins steered Nick Rockett, a gelding trained by his father, Willie Mullins, to success, fending off last year’s winner I Am Maximus at odds of 33/1.

However, days after this notable win, the Whip Review Committee examined Mullins’ ride and issued him an eight-day ban. The 35-year-old amateur jockey was found to have used his whip eight times from the final fence, surpassing the permitted limit of seven.

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Typically, the penalty for exceeding the whip allowance is a four-day suspension, but punishments for Class One events such as the Grand National are doubled. As a result, Mullins will be out of action on April 23, April 25, May 2, May 7, May 10, May 14, May 16 and May 20.

The suspension is a dampener on what has been an extraordinary few days for the Mullins family following Nick Rockett’s triumph, putting trainer Willie back in contention for the British trainer’s title.

What also might make Patrick Mullins grimace is the regulations surrounding amateur jockeys and prize winnings.

Winning jockeys usually pocket around eight per cent of the prize fund, which typically amounts to roughly £40,000. But, for Mullins, the thrill of victory and the cherished memories are the only rewards he is permitted to receive.

The rules stipulate that jockeys racing as registered amateurs are not entitled to any of the prize-winnings. While they can participate in both flat and jump races, they do so purely for the love of the sport.

To secure entry into the Grand National, amateur riders need a minimum of 15 wins in chases or hurdle races under their belts. Despite his post-race emotions, Mullins seemed unfazed by the absence of prize money.

He explained: “I had too good a start and was having to take him back all the way. I was wondering at the Canal Turn ‘Had I lost too much ground’. But he just jumped fantastic. Then I was there too soon and it is a long way from the back of the last with Paul on my outside.

“It’s everything I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid. I know it’s a cliche but when I was five or six years old, I was reading books about the National and watching black and white videos of Red Rum. To put my name there is very special.”

Fielding five horses within the top seven at the Grand National, unfortunately, Mullins’ other entry – Appreciate It – was knocked out at the 21st fence by Kandoo Kid, despite a promising run up to that point.

Following the win, Mullins reflected: “I actually wasn’t thinking about the 1-2-3 – I was single-mindedly thinking about Patrick riding the winner and about Stewart and Sadie.

“I didn’t realise that we’d finished third or fifth – I didn’t look any further. Once we passed the winning post in front the rest didn’t matter.”