Mullins is a genius... and deserves his place alongside Red Rum as the greatest

NEXT year at Aintree, they will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the last of Red Rum's three wins in the world's most famous race.

- ANDY DUNN

As a Grand National icon, Red Rum is without a rival. And always will be.

In the human category, his trainer, the late Ginger McCain (far right), will always be a towering presence at this remarkable sporting venue.

But we can now safely say that Willie Mullins' place at the front and centre of the Grand National hall of fame is secure.

Mulliins' genius within horseracing circles has long been acknowledged. His genius in the wider sporting circles should now be acknowledged.

To train just the one winner of this epic event is some achievement. To train three on the spin is monumental.

But amid the hullabaloo of the winners' enclosure, no one cut a more unflappable figure than Mullins.

Sure, there was a bit of emotion. There might even have been a tear or two. As he has done every time he has won it - and that is now a record-equalling four times - Mullins recounted how it was THE race his family watched when he was growing up.

He spoke about how great it felt just to have runners in the race.

But you can be sure of one thing. It will only have been a matter of hours before Mullins was making plans for his 2027 Aintree challenge.

And they will be made in conjunction with JP McManus, the billionaire owner of I Am Maximus, who has now had four winners of the National.