TRAINER Willie Mullins recently paid a visit to his old secondary school in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, and brought Grand National winner I Am Maximus with him.

Mullins, who graduated from the Cistercian College in 1974, has maintained ties with the school and trained a number of winners for a syndicate associated with the school. I Am Maximus was paraded before the students and the visit was covered on the main RTÉ news bulletins.

Mullins said: “It’s fantastic to be back here. I’d like to think a part of our success is down to what we learnt at the college – the will to win and the need to put in the hours. That was drummed into us here.”

Racing writer Brendán Ó Ruairc, a former teacher at the college, said: “I first met Willie in the early 19070s when he attended boarding school. Students were allowed home just once a term and Willie maintained that the disciplined life has proved most beneficial to him in later years.

“Willie’s loyalty and commitment to his alma mater is exceptional. On the Saturday of Galway Races, in excess of 250 past students and parents of CCR attend. Willie has been guest of honour for some years now. Last May, he had an operation on his hip. When contacted, his immediate reply was, ‘I’m quite sore but I’m looking forward to the CCR dinner at Galway.’”