EMMET Mullins has already made history with Noble Yeats becoming the first seven-year-old Grand National winner since 1940, but he could be set to buck yet more trends again this Sunday in the Grade 1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (3.05) at Auteuil.

The last Irish-trained winner of the ‘French Gold Cup’ came back in 1919 when Troytown, trained by Algy Anthony, captured the prize, and Mullins is looking forward to tackling the prestigious race with a leading contender (priced up as 5/2 favourite).

It has been a spring full of big-race targets for the Robert Waley-Cohen-owned star, having stayed on well to finish fourth in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National.

His Aintree effort was particularly admirable considering he was only the second horse since 1998 to finish in the first four in the Aintree highlight while carrying 11st 11lb or more.

Waley-Cohen told The Irish Field: “I think Corach Rambler was an outstanding winner of the Grand National and our horse ran well in defeat considering he was giving away 20lb to the winner.

“He seems to be an adaptable horse and it’s very exciting to be looking forward to a race like this with him. He’s with a very shrewd and original trainer who isn’t afraid to think outside the box, and he tells me that he’s very happy with the horse.

“Emmet feels he’s in good shape so we’ll have a crack at this. It’s a race we’ve had on our minds through the season, obviously dependent on how he came out of all his other targets during the season.”

The only other Irish-trained runners in the line-up are Franco De Port and Carefully Selected - both trained by Willie Mullins - while Rachael Blackmore partners local hope Gessy Raiselle.

Waley-Cohen added: “When we bought Noble Yeats last spring, we certainly never would have dreamed that he’d take us to all these amazing places. He’s been tremendous.”