Watch Willie Mullins’ emotional interview as owner is left close to tears after late wife’s horse wins £80,000 race

WILLIE MULLINS looked emotional when one of his owners was left close to tears after his late wife’s horse won an £80,000 race.

Nick Rockett ran out a brilliant winner of the hugely popular Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in Ireland on Thursday.

PA

Even the usually unflappable Willie Mullins looked deeply moved by the emotionally-charged victory of Nick Rockett in the Thyestes Handicap[/caption]

PA

Smiles eventually rang out round the winner’s enclosure after Nick Rockett, who is owned by Stewart Andrews’ late wife Sadie, won the big £80,000 race[/caption]

The 18-runner handicap is one of the biggest races in the calendar and always attracts a strong field.

But none of the horses yesterday had a story attached to them as heartbreaking as that of Nick Rockett.

Still running in the name of Stewart and Sadie Andrew, Sadie sadly died in 2022.

She got to see Nick Rockett run his first race a few days before she passed away.

He then won his next three contests – including a Grade 2 over hurdles – before establishing himself as an up-and-coming stayer to watch.

But that potential was never truly realised until he scooped the £50,000 first-place prize under jockey Paul Townend yesterday.

There were emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure, as Stewart spoke so passionately about what the victory meant to him – and would have meant to his late wife.

While even the usually unflappable Mullins looked moved by the occasion.

Stewart said: “Sadie was a local lass from Goresbridge, but sadly died in December 2022.

“She got to see him run in his first bumper just five days before she passed away.

“This horse has been a fantastic servant and to win here means so much more.

“It gives me an inner feeling of consolement as it’s what Sadie always wanted.”

While Mullins added: “There will be great celebrations in the area as Sadie’s family are all from around here.

“It was a tremendous performance. For me today was the day.

“You might get a chance to win one big handicap with a horse in a season and what a race to win.”

This could be just the start of it, though, with Nick Rockett’s odds for the Grand National slashed in half on the back of his Thyestes win.

Originally a 33-1 chance for the world’s most famous race, Coral now make him just 16s.

The firm’s John Hill said: “Willie Mullins is going to hand a strong hand in this year’s Grand National, with Nick Rockett looking like a Aintree contender following his victory in the Goffs Thystes Handicap Chase.

“The Gowran Park winner’s odds have been slashed in half, and is only behind stablemate, I Am Maximus, and Irish Grand National winner, Intense Raffles, in the betting.”

Mullins confirmed Aintree could well be the plan – or the Irish National instead.

And a proud Stewart added: “It would be great to have a runner in the Grand National.

“He’s honest, he jumps well and he stays so that’s all you can ask for in a National horse.”

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