Grand National: Tom Bellamy reveals shock at getting Aintree ride on defending champion Nick Rockett

Even Tom Bellamy was shocked to get the call up by Willie Mullins to ride defending champion Nick Rockett in Saturday’s Grand National.

The in-form jockey was a surprise inclusion on the list of Mullins' riders when Wednesday's declarations were made as the trainer sends nine runners to the famous Aintree race.

Last year's winning rider Patrick, son of Willie, will ride Grangeclare West this time around, with Paul Townend on favourite I Am Maximus.

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Bellamy, who celebrated his first Cheltenham Festival winner last month, joined the Unbridled podcast and admitted he has never even met Mullins before.

"I must admit, I was just poking my tee into the floor and checked my jockey bookings and I couldn't really believe it," he said. "It's massive, humungous.

"My agent rang me and said I might be on the list for Willie if all his were declared. That wasn't the one I was expecting. It's unbelievable."

A visibly shocked Danny Mullins, nephew of Willie, was live on Unbridled as the news was broken to him by hosts Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan that he would be riding Champ Kiely.

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"Are you stitching me up? That's interesting!

"That's the way it goes. People think we know everything, but I'm just as shocked as I look.

"Tom has had a great season and Willie goes for rides in form so good luck to him."

Asked if he had a message from Bellamy, Mullins said: "Get ready to rock and roll, you've got a chance to win the Grand National!"

On Champ Kiely, Mullins added: "You look at his form, he's a two-time Grade One winner and was only a length behind Monty's Star in the Irish Gold Cup.

"Horses that run to that level and get in at a reasonable weight have a chance of hitting the frame."