It would be fair to say that the Mullins Family knows a thing or two about winning the Grand National and, by the time April 10, 2027 arrives, it could be the turn of Bagenalstown trainer Emmet Mullins, nephew of Willie, to add his name to the roll of honour for a second time. Emmet Mullins saddled 50/1 chance Noble Yeats to victory in the 2022 Grand National, but looks to have another live contender in the form of Soldier In Milan, who is preceded in the early ante-post lists for the 2027 Grand National by only the 2024 and 2026 winner I Am Maximus.
A lightly-raced seven-year-old, who has made just five starts over regulation fences, Soldier In Milan nonetheless justified favouritism in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 6, 2026 in facile style, coasting home 16 lengths ahead of his nearest pursuer, Showurappreciation. His task was made easier by the departure of his main market rival, Kiss Will, trained by Willie Mullins, three out, when moving into a challenging position, but, even so, it was difficult not to be impressed with the ease of his victory.
Mullins told the ‘Racing Post’, “It’s been the plan, there’s no hiding that fact. I suppose it has been since the start of the season when we decided to go over fences. We said we’d keep low mileage and get the four runs he needed to qualify.” Mullins also revealed that Soldier In Milan will “probably” be aimed at the 2027 Grand National, for which he already satisfies the qualification criteria.
An easy winner of his sole point-to-point start as a five-year-old, his jumping ability should stand him in good stead over the National fences, but it is worth noting that on their previous meeting, in a beginners’ chase at Punchestown, he only beat the aforementioned Kiss Will by a length-and-a-half, at level weights. At Fairyhouse, Soldier In Milan was conceding 3lb and, having earned himself a 15lb hike in the weights for his runaway victory, will be asked to concede 19lb to Kiss Will in future handicap engagements.