Champion trainer Willie Mullins was given a hero's welcome when he went back to his old school with a VIP guest.
Mullins took the Grand National winner I Am Maximus with him for his first visit to Cistercian College in Roscrea, Co Tipperary in a quarter of a century. The 18-time champion jumps trainer who was crowned champion in Britain for the first time in April is the most successful Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer in history.
He clinched his 100th success at the meeting in March and credits the boy’s only secondary school, which is located within the grounds of Mount St Joseph Abbey, with playing an instrumental part in his success.
Mullins met staff past and present as well as pupils during his visit which he referenced in a post on X. “It has been a while…but it was fantastic to go back to my old alma mater with I Am Maximus.”
The 67-year-old became champion jumps trainer in Britain after a riveting battle with defending champion Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton. I Am Maximus’s victory in the £1 million Grand National at Aintree had paved the way for feat which had not been achieved since the legendary Vincent O’Brien claimed both Irish and British titles since 1954.
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Mullins met past and present teachers and current pupils of Cistercian College during his stay.
He told Virgin Media news, “It’s a fantastic excuse to be back here at the college. I haven’t been here for maybe 25 years I think
“I’d like to think that maybe a part of our success was what we learned here in the college all those years ago - the will to win, you’ve got to put in the training time and the hours - and that’s what was drummed into us here.”
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