The Willie Mullins XI: Scottish Grand National favourite backed into 9-2 from 16-1 heads trainer's formidable challenge
The chase is on. Willie Mullins is set to be mob-handed at Ayr on Saturday, as he looks to reel in Dan Skelton and secure back-to-back British trainers' titles.
A stunning Aintree which culminated in Nick Rockett claiming an emotional Grand National victory has seen Mullins quickly close the gap to Skelton at the top of the table.
He trained the first three home after fielding six runners in the National and now his attention turns to the Scottish equivalent – Mullins could have enough runners to fill a football team, with £112,540 on offer to the winner. Here, we look at his Scottish Grand National XI
Chosen Witness
Odds 9-2 (Coral)
Who is he?
Chosen Witness leapt to the head of the Scottish Grand National after confirmations were made on Monday and a wave of support saw him slashed into 9-2 favourite having been as big as 16-1 in the morning.
He was still firmly involved when coming down at the fourth-last in a 3m Grade 2 chase when last seen at Navan in February – that was a decent race, with Better Days Ahead, Stellar Story and Three Card Brag in opposition. On the whole his chase form after three starts is indifferent but he won a 3m novice handicap hurdle at this meeting last year and it would be telling if he's the pick of Paul Townend.
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O'Moore Park
Odds 10-1
Who is he?
O'Moore Park ran a huge race in the pink and green silks of Susannah and Rich Ricci at Cheltenham, defying odds of 66-1 to finish third behind Caldwell Potter in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase. Caldwell Potter has since delivered another dominant performance in winning a Grade 1 on good ground at Aintree, so the form of O'Moore Park's third looks solid.
Macdermott
Odds 12-1
Who is he?
Macdermott was last year's Scottish Grand National hero, getting up on the line under Danny Mullins to deny Surrey Quest in a thriller. His victory at 18-1 came as Mullins' momentum in the title race became unstoppable but his four runs since have left a lot to be desired – he has been pulled up twice, unseated Danny Mullins and finished 20th out of 27 on the one time he has completed.
Captain Cody
Odds 12-1
Who is he?
A lightly raced seven-year-old, Captain Cody is winless over fences but produced a fine display to finish a narrow third behind Three Card Brag in a beginners' chase at Navan in January. He was then sent to the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, won by Haiti Couleurs, where he unseated Danny Mullins. He could still have untapped potential over marathon distances.
High Class Hero
Odds 12-1
Who is he?
Potentially one of the classier contenders, High Class Hero had a Brown Advisory entry but skipped Cheltenham, instead running in a Grade 3 at Thurles last month. He was sent off a 2-13 favourite that day but could only manage second, however he had justified odds-on favouritism in his previous start when beating stablemate and fellow Ayr hopeful Loughglynn at Punchestown.
Olympic Man
Odds 14-1
Who is he?
Owned by Audrey Turley, Olympic Man wears the same silks which have been etched into racing history by two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs. He was last seen winning a beginners' chase at Naas in March but before that faded badly at Navan to finish a long way behind stablemates and potential Ayr opponents Captain Cody and Loughglynn.
Loughglynn
Odds 16-1
Who is he?
The winner of a Grade 2 novice hurdle over Stellar Story at Limerick in December 2023, Loughglynn is yet to score over fences in three attempts this season, and will need to reverse the form with High Class Hero and Captain Cody if he is to break that duck on Saturday.
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Spanish Harlem
Odds 20-1
Who is he?
Spanish Harlem was the choice of Townend for this race last year and finished sixth, running with credit before a mistake four from home all but ended his chances. This season, he came home a distant seventh in the Thyestes Chase – a race won by Nick Rockett en route to Grand National glory.
Klarc Kent
Odds 25-1
Who is he?
Klarc Kent finished eighth in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but more is required in this company. He also ran in the Thyestes, trailing in 34 lengths behind Nick Rockett, and is winless over fences in 11 attempts.
A Penny A Hundred
Odds 25-1
Who is she?
A Penny A Hundred made her handicap debut at this meeting last year, running in a 3m hurdle race under Townend, but failed to fire and was pulled up. She has finished third and fourth in mares-only novice chases the last twice and plenty of improvement will be needed here.
Judicieuse Allen
Odds 33-1
Who is she?
Judicieuse Allen was last of five in a Listed mares' novice chase at Fairyhouse in February, which was won by stablemate Spindleberry, but while she has a low weight at Ayr and has scope for improvement she will have to improve a lot to challenge. She is also yet to run over further than 2m6½f, so Saturday's trip is an unknown.
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Scottish Grand National latest odds
Scottish Grand National (3.35 Ayr Saturday)
Coral: 9-2 Chosen Witness, 10 O'Moore Park, Whistle Stop Tour, 12 Captain Cody High Class Hero, Macdermott, 14 Apple Away, Olympic Man, 16 Loughglynn, Hasthing, Henry’s Friend, Rock My Way, Surrey Quest, The Kniphand, Walking On Air, 20 bar
Verdict: Mullins a major danger but could big prize stay at home?
By Matt Rennie, reporter
Willie Mullins looks set to send an army of horses and I'd have Captain Cody as the big danger, but I think the race will remain in Scotland with the Lucinda Russell-trained Whistle Stop Tour.
Russell told me back in October for the Racing Post stable tour that "he could be a Scottish Grand National horse" and he's already a multiple winner at the track, including over 3m over fences this season.
He ran a modest race on Cheltenham's Trials day over an inadequate 2m4½f trip in January, but the winner and third that day, Jagwar and Masaccio, filled the same positions in the Plate at the festival.
Ignore his last run in the Ultima as he was badly hampered by a faller at the first fence and he could still have mileage off his mark of 136.
Read these next:
'Don't take it away from me, not now' - how I won the Grand National, by Patrick Mullins
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