Born on June 6th, 1996, David Mullins comes from a huge Irish racing family, which needs no introduction. However, David wasn’t in the spotlight for long, so doesn’t have the same kind of reputation as some others in his family.
During his short career, David did manage to do something that many jockeys dream about, and that was to win the Grand National. He did this in 2016, with an excellent ride aboard Rule The World. This was his first attempt at the race, winning in style, and it would eventually be his one win in the race from four attempts during his career.
Success came for David Mullins, but it wasn’t enough to keep him involved with race riding. After describing the struggles around travelling for one or two rides in Ireland, Mullins felt he could not go on, and called it a day.
From just four rides in the Grand National, David won the race once, finished second and completed the course in three of his four attempts.
David Mullins Grand National Wins
- 2016 - Rule The World trained by Michael “Mouse” Morris
Full Results
| Year | Horse | Result | Prize Money | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Livelovelaugh | 11 | - | Willie Mullins |
| 2018 | Pleasant Company | 2 | £200,000 | Willie Mullins |
| 2017 | Stellar Notion | Fence 13 - Pulled Up | - | Henry De Bromhead |
| 2016 | Rule The World | 1 | £561,300 | Michael “Mouse” Morris |
A Grand National Winner at Just 19 Years Old
Despite a short career, David Mullins will have many days to look back upon as he grows old, and one of those will certainly be his Grand National success. In 2016, his first attempt to win the race, and at just 19-years-old, David won the Grand National aboard Rule The World.
He became just the second youngest person to win the race, behind 17-year-old Bruce Hobbs, who won the race in 1938. You certainly wouldn’t think that given the ride he gave his mount, who remarkably, was winning his first-ever chase race when taking the Grand National. Cool throughout, keeping hold of his mount and ensuring he got the trip, this was an excellent ride that got the victory it deserved from Mullins.
Another Member of the Mullins Dynasty
While the name David Mullins may not be too familiar to everyone who enjoys horse racing, the name Mullins certainly will be. One of the most successful families in Irish racing, David is another person off the conveyor belt of success from this family.
The son of Tom Mullins, grandson of Paddy Mullins and nephew to trainer Willie Mullins, where David was one of the stable jockeys during his short career, and where he gained most of his success.
Shock Retirement Aged Just 24
The news that David Mullins was retiring from the saddle came as a shock to everyone who had heard. He was in a strong position, and while not making strides and joining the elite ranks of jockeys in Ireland, he was getting some good rides, and had the chance to be aboard some of the most exciting horses.
Away from the Grand National, during his career he had big race wins aboard the likes of Min, Faugheen, Al Boum Photo, Kemboy, Bellshill and others. His first Grade One victory came in 2015, when he rode Nichols Canyon to victory in the Morgiana Hurdle, beating the Champion Hurdle winner at the time, Faugheen.
Those named horses are some of the strongest to come from the Willie Mullins team during the years which David was a licensed jockey. He got to ride them all, but ultimately the good days aboard horses like that, and the big meetings, were not enough to make up for the tougher days in the saddle.
Mullins explained that he was struggling with the need to go and take one ride on a track that was a couple of hours away, a horse that was an outsider, and he knew wouldn’t win. He will have good memories of racing though, with his win on Rule The World in the 2016 Grand National, no doubt being one of the best.