The successful jumps trainer is a traditionalist but welcomes the significant changes made at Aintree in the past decade
On the eve of the Horse Welfare Board’s first press conference, intended to introduce itself and its aims to the world, Willie Mullins gave his support to the idea that racing should move with the times and adjust to changing social mores. The hugely successful jumps trainer described himself as a traditionalist but admitted that, despite his scepticism, good had come of significant changes made to the Grand National in the past decade.Mullins made his comments at his stables on Wednesday, during a discussion of the National Hunt Chase, which became a hot topic at last year’s Festival when turning into an attritional battle, just four of the 18 starters completing the course. As a result, the race has now been reduced in distance by two furlongs and a minimum rating introduced along with other conditions.
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