Nick Rockett ‘all systems go’ for repeat Grand National bid

Patrick Mullins believes Nick Rockett still all he needed to do ahead of heading to Aintree to defend his Randox Grand National title after qualifying for the contest at Down Royal.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was victorious when ridden by Mullins last season, but was slow to come to hand this term with an interrupted preparation.

He lined up in the Bluegrass Racehorse Cube Chase at Down Royal needing a run to gain eligibility for this year’s renewal of the race, and when finishing third behind Gerri Colombe and Roi Mage he booked his ticket for Liverpool next month.

Patrick Mullins said: “He blew up kind of at the fourth last and missed the fence there.

“I loved what he did from the back of the second last when he got his second wind and he ran on.

“You saw that (how long he had been off) in how he jumped the first, how he was on his toes before the start, how he ran keen early on – that will blow the cobwebs away.

“Look, it was the bare minimum of what we needed to see, but I think we saw enough.

“He came out of the race fine and is all systems go (for Aintree).”