Update: |Grand National winning jockey suspended days after historic Aintree victory News

Patrick Mullins won the Grand National on Saturday with Nick Rockett

Grand National winning jockey Patrick Mullins has been suspended for eight days after being found to have used his whip one above the permitted level aboard Nick Rockett on Saturday.

Mullins steered the eight-year-old to a two-and-a-half-length victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase. The win was made even more special for the 35-year-old as Nick Rockett is trained by his dad, Willie.

But following a review by the Whip Review Committee, Mullins has been found to have used his whip one above the permitted level of seven from the final fence, and as the Grand National is a Class One race, the usual penalty of four days for such an offence was doubled.

The 35-year-old was therefore suspended for eight days on the following dates: April 23, April 25, May 2, May 7, May 10, May 14, May 16 and May 20. Speaking after his memorable win at Aintree, Mullins said, “I had too good a start and was having to take him back all the way. I was wondering at the Canal Turn if I had lost too much ground, but he just jumped fantastically.

“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.”Reflecting on the achievement, an emotional Mullins Snr remarked: “This is the summit for me, I don’t think it can get any better than this. It’s just huge. It’s like something out of a Disney film.“I don’t know if I gave him a cheer, I was just speechless. I just broke down completely. I did for about 20 minutes after. I just couldn’t help it, I just completely lost it.“To have one horse run in the National, but then to have one your son can ride is millions, millions, millions-to-one what happened today.“It is just something else to be able to leg up your son in the greatest race of all time. You dream of winning it yourself, but to dream of putting your son up – when he was born, I said he couldn’t be the jockey the size of him, but he’s turned out to be a fantastic jockey.”