Image - Grossick Photography/The Jockey Club
Pat Doyle has produced numerous top-quality horses over the years, and it was no surprise that this year’s Randox Grand National Chase winner Nick Rockett learned his trade at Doyle’s Suirview Stables academy in County Tipperary.
Running just the once for Doyle in the colours of owner Roger O’Byrne, Nick Rockett won a four-year-old geldings’ contest at Curraghmore in October 2021. The well-bred son of Walk In The Park, who was sent off favourite in the race, left a favourable impression when overcoming a third-last fence error to score by three-parts-of-a-length under Pa King.
When asked about Nick Rockett’s early journey, Doyle replied,
“I thought he had a big future, that’s why I rang Willie Mullins to buy him.
“Myself and Willie are very good friends and he takes my word on most things. So I rang him and told him that he should have this horse. He only barely won his point, but he’s got a big engine and you need to buy him.”
Nick Rockett duly joined Mullins and was next seen when he finished fourth on his racecourse debut for new owners Stuart and Sadie Andrews in December 2022. He won his bumper next time out at Thurles before going on to win two hurdles including The Grade 2 Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Nick Rockett then embarked on a chasing career and won three over the bigger obstacles, including the Grade 3 Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran and the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start.
One of six-runners that lined-up in the Grand National for Closutton genius Willie Mullins, Nick Rockett was sent off one of the outsiders of his sixtet at odds of 33/1.
Ridden by Willie’s son Patrick, Nick Rockett came through the field to lead two out and kept on strongly to beat stable companions I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West in a historic 1-2-3 in the Grand National for Mullins.
Nick Rockett wins the Aintree Grand National %uD83D%uDE80
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 5, 2025
Patrick Mullins riding for his dad Willie %uD83C%uDFC6 pic.twitter.com/gMkkC9dvmV
When Doyle was asked if he thought he might have had a Grand National winner on his hands, he said, “No sure them things are never in your dreams, I never thought he’d be as good a chaser as he is.
“I thought he was a real hurdle horse that would make a grand chaser but he turned out to be a proper horse.”
Doyle was also responsible for selling 1994 Grand National winner Miinnehoma who won under Richard Dunwoody for Martin Pipe.
“I sold another Grand National winner for the same owner, Miinnehoma, and he wasn’t a big horse either. Both him and Nick Rockett were owned by Roddy O’Byrne.
“Neither of them were big horses and both have won Grand Nationals.”
Another Aintree victor to emerge from Doyle's yard was the Grade 1 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle winner Honesty Policy.
Finishing second on his points debut for Doyle in a Castletown Geoghegan four-year-old maiden at the start of the autumn campaign, this son of Jukebox Jury was then snapped up by JP McManus and moved to Gordon Elliott’s care.
The well-bred bay finished second on his first racecourse run before winning twice over hurdles.
“He is a very good horse, I always liked him and thought he was a smart horse.
“I was very disappointed when he got beat at Castletown Geoghegan and I sold him to Aubrey MacMahon who had a couple of orders in for horses at the time,” recalled Doyle.
“He ran a nice race, I got him sold and I’m delighted that he’s gone on to do what he’s doing.
“I didn’t know that he would go on to run in JP’s colours but I’m delighted he has him, as he is a wonderful man for racing.”
The Mark Walsh-ridden Honesty Policy, a 5/1 shot for the Aintree race, made up ground from the fourth last to lead on the run to the line and score by half-a-length from the Paul Nicholls-trained Regent’s Stroll.
“I didn’t go to Aintree at all, I didn’t even go to the Foxhunters, I was back at home watching on the telly.
“I rode out the finishes, you’d never see a man ride out finishes like it, sitting on the couch!” quipped Doyle.
Doyle was represented on the opening day at Aintree, in the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase with the ultra-consistent ten-year-old Lifetime Ambition who finished third under Rob James.
The former Jessica Harrington-trained Lifetime Ambition was over-qualified for the race last year, but has had the Foxhunters in his sights for a while.
“It was always his main aim as he’d been second around there when Jessica had him and we knew he’d handle the track and the fences, and the trip was the right trip for him,” commented Doyle.
Gracchus De Balme wins the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase for Joe O'Shea and Huw Edwards! %uD83E%uDD47#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/iLev18ZcVs
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 3, 2025
“He was just a little bit unlucky in running, and the start didn’t help him and he just got very wide, but sure he ran a fantastic race and we’re aiming for the same race next year again.”
Doyle, who describes himself as a homebird, disclosed future plans for stalwart Lifetime Ambition who relishes good underfoot conditions.
“We may go to Punchestown with him, he was second there last year. It will all depend on the weather.
“We have an option to go to Cork in two weeks. He is very well after his run.
“ We could even skip Punchestown and go to Killarney.
“We have three options with him.”
“All being well if he comes in after the summer grass, and all goes well, I’ll probably give him one run in the autumn and two in the spring before heading back to Aintree.”
“That’s the plan mapped out, whether it will work or not, is another days work!”
Doyle’s son Jack travelled with Lifetime Ambition to Aintree and is a big part of the operation where Doyle’s daughter Susie and wife Mary are also a big help in the yard.
“We’re having a great year, the horses are running well and I’m very happy. I’ve a great team of people behind me.”
With around thirty horses riding-out, Doyle has been in excellent form this season and has saddled 15 winners from 46 runners in points with a 33% strike rate. He is currently sitting sixth in the leading handlers’ rankings.
