The Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National jockeys have been confirmed for his six runners in Saturday’s big Ayr race – but Paul Townend isn’t on any and won’t be making the trip to Scotland over the weekend.
Paul Townend has hurt his arm and is taken a few days off to recover.
Can Patrick Mullins Land More Grand National Gold On Olympic Man?
Last Saturday at Aintree was the stuff of dreams – even for Willie Mullins – as he saddled the first three home in the Grand National – with the horse leading the way Nick Rockett steered by his son Patrick.
He’ll be hoping for more of the same this Saturday as the National bandwagon heads north of the border to Scotland – a race Mullins won last year and will be pivotal in this season’s jumps trainers title race with £112k on offer to the winner.
This is because after a fantastic Aintree, Mullins – who won the trainers’ title last season – closed the gap on Dan Skelton to just over £100k.
Having had eleven horses entered earlier in the week, Mullins has whittled down his Scottish Grand National charge to SIX – and we also now know the jockeys.
Paul Townend NOT Heading To Ayr This Weekend
There is no place on the Mullins Ayr team this weekend for main rider Paul Townend, who was runner-up on I Am Maximus at Aintree last week, having hurt his arm recently – but we do see many familiar faces from last week in action for the Closutton yard.
Including son Patrick Mullins, who will be looking for more gold as he gets the leg-up on OLYMPIC MAN – he’s the only horse of the Mullins Scottish National runners who heads here having won last time out.
That win came at Naas last month over 2m4f, but connections are clearly hopeful he’ll stay the longer 4m trip. Olympic Gold is also owned by Audrey Turley of Galopin Des Champs fame.
Main Willie Mullins rider Paul Townend won’t be in action for the yard in any of the Ayr races this weekend.
Willie Mullins Jockeys For 2025 Scottish Grand National
See below the full list of Willie Mullins jockeys for his six Scottish Grand National runners.
- Chosen Mate – Sean O’Keeffe
- Captain Cody – Harry Cobden
- Klarc Kent – Jonathan Burke
- Macdermott – Danny Mullins
- Olympic Man – Patrick Mullins
- Spanish Harlem – Brian Hayes
Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National Jockeys Sees Harry Cobden Booked For Captain Cody
Sean O’Keeffe will ride the likely favourite Chosen Mate as the horse looks to bounce back from unseating at Navan back in February and runs for the Kopek Des Bordes team. Last week O’Keeffe rode Appreciate It for Mullins in the National but was brought down at the 21st fence.
With no Paul Nicholls runners in the race – Harry Cobden has picked up a nice spare on Captain Cody. This 7 year-old is another that unseated his jockey last time when last seen in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival.
Jonathan Burke rode Minella Cocooner for Mullins last week at Aintree and having had early saddle issues and performing heroics to finish 7th – he’ll be looking for another ‘Superman’ performance on Klarc Kent. This horse was also 4th in the race last year but is back 8lbs better off.
Danny Mullins Will Ride Last Year’s Winner Macdermott Again
Last year’s winner is back for Mullins too -Macdermott – and will be ridden like last year by Danny Mullins. He returns 5lbs higher this time and connections will be hoping a return to Ayr will spark him back to life after four poor runs since winning this 12 months ago.
Danny Mullins rode Meetingofthewaters to finish 5th in the Aintree National for Mullins last week.
The final confirmed entry for Mullins in Saturday’s race will be Spanish Harlem – who will be ridden by Brian Hayes. This 7 year-old is also another that ran in the race last year – running 6th but is 9lbs better off with Macdermott this time.
Last week many felt Brian Hayes was also unlucky not to have won the Aintree Grand National.
His mount Grangeclare West blundered the last when in the mix but still recovered to be a fast-finishing third – beaten only 3 lengths.
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
