The British Trainers’ championship is now distinctly up for grabs and Willie Mullins is not messing around in his pursuit of Dan Skelton. He has declared six horses for the Scottish Grand National on Saturday, and we analyse their chances of success.
Olympic Man – TBC
Owned like Galopin Des Champs by Mrs Audrey Turley, Olympic Man has not hit that great horse’s heights. However, after only three starts over fences, he has shaped with promise, finishing a close fourth to Grade 1 winner Dancing City on his chase debut despite jumping errors, and getting off the mark most recently at Naas. That victory was over 2m4f, but he has otherwise run over 3m and looks like a stayer in the making. Whether he is the fairest treated Mullins runner by the handicapper is the question, but could be Paul Townend’s mount if he’s fit to ride.
Macdermott – Danny Mullins
Last year’s winner of the race, Macdermott remarkably drifted out from ante-post favourite to 18/1 before getting up by a nose to land the spoils under Danny Mullins. Willie’s nephew rides again after 2024’s heroics and he is only 5lb higher in the handicap having stayed every yard at the trip. He has been in poor form in his native Ireland this season and may not be quite as at home on the forecast softer ground, but cannot be ruled out back in this contest.
Captain Cody – Harry Cobden
Novice chasers have a good record in this race, and another of those for Mullins is Captain Cody. He was a Grade 2 winner as a novice hurdler before going chasing, a discipline he appears to be gradually improving at. He was a close third on his third chase start behind Aintree Grand National runner Three Card Brag before unseating in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. We will never know how he would have got on, but he could very easily have more to offer and Harry Cobden is a top impromptu jockey booking.
Scottish Grand National Runners – Willie Mullins Responsible for Over a Quarter of 23 Declarations
23 runners have been declared for the Scottish Grand National and Willie Mullins is on the offensive, being responsible for more than a quarter of those in the race. The race is run at Ayr this Saturday, 12th April. The new clear favourite for the race is the unexposed novice chaser Chosen Witness, who would…
Thu 10 Apr 2025Chosen Witness – Sean O’Keeffe
A huge gamble after the confirmations were made on Monday, Chosen Witness is the clear favourite for the 2025 Scottish Grand National. Another novice, he us arguably the least exposed of the bunch, shaping with promise when third at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, then unseating Paul Townend in Grade 2 company when it was too early to tell how he would have fared. However, he was still in contention in a decent field that day which could mean his opening handicap mark of 137 is lenient for a horse who won on this card over hurdles 12 months ago.
Spanish Harlem – Brian Hayes
Still yet to win over fences, Spanish Harlem was the surprise choice of Paul Townend a year ago, which prompted a price collapse prior to the race. Although he could only finish sixth, he was staying on towards the end, which could ensure he is a lively each-way chance this year. His inability to win in eight chases so far is a concern, but he is 4lb lower in the handicap than he was in 2024 and shaped with promise in Punchestown’s Grand National trial last time out. He should not be ruled out lightly.
Klarc Kent – Jonathan Burke
The oldest of Mullins’ six runners, the nine-year-old Klarc Kent outperformed his 50/1 odds to finish fourth in this last season. His form has collapsed since, finishing no better than eighth, which is why he is 8lb lower in the handicap for this year’s renewal. He probably isn’t one to inherently trust, but his last run, when eighth in the National Hunt Chase, was his best since the 2024 Scottish National, so with a further 3lb subtracted from his handicap mark, there are reasons for optimism that he could get involved.
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