With the Closutton yard hot on the heels of Dan Skelton in the British trainers’ jump title race, we look at the final Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National runners as he looks to follow up last year’s success and bag the £112k first prize.
Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National Runners Headed By Chosen Witness, As He Declares SIX
The Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National runners are out ahead of Saturday’s big Ayr race, with Mullins whittling down his 11 entries to SIX confirmed.
These include last year’s winner Macdermott, but the Mullins runner topping the market with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK is the 8 year-old CHOSEN WITNESS.
The horse was last seen unseating Paul Townend in a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Navan in February – but was still very much in contention at the time (four out).
Connections have given him plenty of time to get over that race, while Chosen Witness also has winning form here at Ayr – having won a handicap hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago.
The form of that race has also since been franked with the runner-up Stellar Story having run an excellent second in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Last Year’s Winner Macdermott Another Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National Runner
As mentioned, we will also see 2024 Scottish Grand National winner Macdermott running again for Willie Mullins in Saturday’s race.
Still aged only 7 years-old, this stayer landed the prize for Mullins by a hard-fought nose 12 months ago -seeing off Surrey Quest (watch below).
Macdermott returns another year 0lder and off a mark only 5lbs higher.
However, he’s run just four times since winning the Scottish Grand National with no wins, while three of those outings have also seen him fail to complete.
He’ll be looking to become the first ‘back-to-back’ Scottish Grand National winner since Vicente did the double for trainer Paul Nicholls in 2016 and 2017.
Prior to that, Merigo won the prize in 2010 and 2012, while the last repeat winner was Androma in 1984-85.
Macdermott was ridden by Danny Mullins in 2024.
Last year’s 4th Klarc Kent will be hoping for another Mullins ‘Superman’ performance, plus he also has Spanish Harlem, who was 6th last year.
WATCH: Macdermott Winning The 2024 Scottish Grand National
Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National Runners
At the final declaration stage the Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National runners stand at SIX entries – with the final decs having come out on Thursday 10th April.
Here are the entries with their ages in brackets.
- Chosen Mate (8) – Will be the shortest-priced Mullins runner after running well behind Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story last time at Navan before unseating. Still to win over fences (3 runs)
- Captain Cody (7) – Unseated in the NH Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time, but before that ran Three Card Brag to 2 3/4 lengths a Navan. But yet to win over fences (4 runs).
- Klarc Kent (9) – 8th in the NH Chase last time so has ground to make up with some and is now 11 runs over fences with no wins. But was a fine 4th in the race last year and 8lbs lower now.
- Macdermott (7) – Won this last year and is only 5lbs higher this time. Been poor since, however, in his four runs – three of which he didn’t even complete.
- Olympic Man (8) – The only last time out winner in the race for Mullins – winning at Naas over 2m4f. Could be more to come on only fourth chase start – but longer trip the big unknown.
- Spanish Harlem (7) – Sixth in the race last year, only beaten 8 1/4 lengths. Rated 4lbs lower this time and a year older makes him a big player – and is 9lbs better off with Macdermott.
This Saturday’s Scottish Grand National will also be a key race in the 2025 British Jumps Trainers’ Championship with Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton both having runners.
There is only around £100k between the two heading into the weekend.
Skelton will run two in the race – Snipe and Sail Away.
Every Scottish National Runners 2025
Here are the 23 confirmed 2025 Scottish Grand National runners.
- Mr Incredible
- Henry’s Friend
- Our Power
- Olympic Man
- Macdermott
- Famous Bridge
- Captain Cody
- Surrey Quest
- Chosen Witness
- Spanish Harlem
- Hasthing
- Rock My Way
- Sail Away
- Wiseguy
- Flash De Touzaine
- Walking On Air
- The Kniphand
- Gronzi
- Dom Of Mary
- Snipe
- Klarc Kent
- Magna Sam
- Brandt
2025 Scottish Grand National Race Details
📅Date: Saturday 12th April 2025
⌚Time: 3:35pm
🏇Racecourse: Ayr
🔄Trip: 4m
💷Winner: £112,540
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Recent Scottish Grand National Winners
- 2024 – Macdermott (18/1)
- 2023 – Kitty’s Light (4/1 jfav)
- 2022 – Win My Wings (13/2 cfav)
- 2021 – Mighty Thunder (8/1)
- 2020 – No Race (Covid)
- 2019 – Takingrisks (25/1)
- 2018 – Joe Farrell (33/1)
- 2017 – Vincente (9/1 jfav)
- 2016 – Vincente (14/1)
- 2015 – Wayward Lad (25/1)
- 2014 – Al Co (40/1)
