One week after a memorable edition of the Aintree Grand National, the staying chase roadshow moved north for the biggest race of the year at Ayr. Hot on the heels of a spectacular 1-2-3 on Merseyside, Willie Mullins was the focus of attention. Having obliterated much of the deficit to Dan Skelton in the race to become British Champion Trainer, could he edge closer in this valuable event?
With six entries, Mullins was responsible for over 25% of the final 23-runner field. Having struggled to identify Mullins’ number one hope in the week leading up to the race, the market eventually sided with Olympic Man. The choice of Patrick Mullins arrived on the back of an impressive success at Naas and looked to have plenty in his favour. Elsewhere in the Mullins team, Macdermott arrived as the defending champion, Captain Cody headed here following an unlucky unseat in the National Hunt Chase, Klark Kent and Spanish Harlem had finished fourth and sixth in the 2024 edition, and Chosen Witness had previously headed the ante-post market. Not a bad selection with which to do battle!
Given his recent form, punters were understandably keen to side with Mullins. However, there were others gaining support in the market. Having only lost out in the dying strides in 2024, Surrey Quest was fancied to go well for Toby Lawes; Rock My Way caught the eye when staying on for second over 3m6f at the Cheltenham Festival, and The Kniphand was a popular each-way option for the Twiston-Davies team. Dan Skelton’s two-pronged attack was headed by Sail Away, who had the form to go close if handling the step-up in trip.
Result
- 1st – Captain Cody 9/1, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd – Klarc Kent 20/1, Jockey: Jonathan Burke, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd – Our Power 33/1, Jockey: Dylan Johnston, Trainer: Sam Thomas
- 4th – Grozni 22/1, Jockey: Callum Pritchard, Trainer: James Owen
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £112,540
- 2nd – £42,400
- 3rd – £21,220
- 4th – £10,600
- 5th – £5,320
- 6th – £2,660
- 7th – £1,320
- 8th – £680
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £11.10
- Tote Places – 1st – £2.80, 2nd – £4.20, 3rd – £8.50
- Exacta – £189
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £125.38
- Trifecta – £8,022.20
- Tricast – £4,055.06
Recap
An eventful race saw only eight of the 23 runners complete the course, but in the end, the result was much as it had been at Aintree. Try as they might, the British contingent had no answers to that man Mullins in the spring of 2025.
When the flag went down, Walking On Air, from the unheralded Faye Bromley operation, grabbed the lead but was quickly joined by Klarc Kent on the inside rail. Fellow Mullins runners Olympic Man and Spanish Harlem gained prominent early positions to the outer. We saw the first drama of the race at the very first fence, as 2024 runner-up Surrey Quest fell and brought down the unfortunate Sail Away.
Market leader Olympic Man grabbed the lead at the fifth fence, followed by Klarc Kent and The Kniphand, who made an early move from midfield. Our Power tracked the Twiston-Davies runner through to get a nice position on the inside, with defending champ Macdermott also prominent. Captain Cody held up and was last but one at this early stage.
We saw little change in the order through the middle stages, but the spills continued at the fences. Dan Skelton’s second runner Snipe fell at the 7th and brought down Hasthing. Shortly after, Macdermott tragically went wrong, with the enigmatic Mr Incredible deciding enough was enough and pulling up. Walking On Air also called it a day and carried Spanish Harlem out of the contest.
Meanwhile, at the head of affairs, Olympic Man led the field out onto their final circuit. Klarc Kent and The Kniphand continued to sit on the pace, with Chosen Witness going well in fourth. There were around 12 lengths between first and last, but several in behind were moving comfortably – most notably Captain Cody.
With Olympic Man beginning to falter in the jumping department, Klarc Kent moved through to lead in the back straight. A bad blunder ended the claims of Wiseguy as a gap opened up between the front eight and the rest. Rock My Way emerged as a danger, and Captain Cody loomed ominously on the outside under a motionless Harry Cobden.
Klarc Kent moved two lengths clear over the second last. Our Power tried in vain to make inroads, but Captain Cody was yet to be asked a single question by his ice-cool rider. Still three lengths down over the last, it briefly appeared that Cobden may have overcooked the waiting tactics. However, the rider had plenty left in the tank. Once asked to quicken, Captain Cody responded willingly to hit the front inside the final 50 yards. Klarc Kent would finish a length back in second, with a 10-length gap to Our Power in third.
A second win in the race for the unstoppable Willie Mullins, who completed a famous Grand National double. A supreme ride from Cobden was rewarded with a first Scottish Grand National success.
Runners
- 1. Mr Incredible – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Sandy Thomson, Jockey: Alice Stevens
- 2. Henry’s Friend – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Ben Pauling, Jockey: Ben Jones
- 3. Our Power – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Sam Thomas, Jockey: Dylan Johnston
- 4. Olympic Man – SP: 15/2F, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Mr P W Mullins
- 5. Macdermott – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Danny Mullins
- 6. Famous Bridge – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Nicky Richards, Jockey: Sean Quinlan
- 7. Captain Cody – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Harry Cobden
- 8. Surrey Quest – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Toby Lawes, Jockey: Kevin Brogan
- 9. Chosen Witness – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
- 10. Spanish Harlem – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Brian Hayes
- 11. Hasthing – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill & A J O’Neill, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
- 12. Rock My Way – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Joe Tizzard, Jockey: Brendan Powell
- 13. Sail Away – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Skelton
- 14. Wiseguy – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Nicky Henderson, Jockey: Nico De Boinville
- 15. Flash De Touzaine – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Liz Doyle, Jockey: Sean Flanagan
- 16. Walking On Air – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Faye Bromley, Jockey: Richie McLernon
- 17. The Kniphand – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- 18. Grozni – SP: 22/1, Trainer: James Owen, Jockey: Callum Pritchard
- 19. Dom Of Mary – SP: 40/1, Trainer: David Bridgwater, Jockey: Caoilin Quinn
- 20. Snipe – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Atkins
- 21. Klarc Kent – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Jonathan Burke
- 22. Magna Sam – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Alastair Ralph, Jockey: David Noonan
- 23. Brandt – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Cian Collins, Jockey: Sean Bowen
Non Runners
All ran.