The Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr on Saturday is poised to play a pivotal role in deciding the National Hunt trainers’ championship, as Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton reignite their rivalry. With 18 and 10 runners respectively, both trainers are going all-in, hoping to make the most of one of the final major fixtures of the season.
Mullins, who last year became the first Irish-based trainer in 70 years to claim the British title, arrives at Ayr on the back of a spectacular performance in the Grand National at Aintree, where his runners claimed nearly £850,000 of the £1 million purse. Despite that windfall, he remains over £100,000 behind Skelton in the standings heading into the weekend and will need a strong showing at Ayr to stay on track in the title race, which concludes at Sandown on 25 April.
His team includes six contenders in the feature race at 3.35pm, notably Chosen Witness, Captain Cody, and Olympic Man, all of whom are well-fancied in the betting. Skelton, in contrast, relies on Sail Away and Snipe, priced at 16-1 and 40-1 respectively, to spring a surprise and snatch the £112,000 first prize.
Yet, the horse that could spoil Mullins’s chances is The Kniphand. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, The Kniphand has made steady progress in his second season over fences. He put up a career-best effort when runner-up in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster over three-and-a-quarter miles and shapes as though Saturday’s extended trip will suit him perfectly. A bold showing here could significantly impact the title race narrative.
The undercard also features several key races with implications for the championship. Mullins’s Ethical Diamond is favourite for the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.15), worth £56,000 to the winner. He also runs Bunting in the same race, but both must contend with the versatile and consistent Kihavah, who was runner-up in last summer’s Ebor Handicap and returns to handicapping after two solid efforts in Graded company.
Mullins’s presence is also strong in the opener (1.43) with Loughglynn, who looks well treated on his handicap debut and could provide another timely contribution to the title push. Meanwhile, the day’s action starts with a rematch at 1.10 between Tommy’s Oscar and Traprain Law, who fought out the finish in the same race last year. Traprain Law, trained by Lucinda Russell, has shown better form in recent outings and, now 2lb better off, may reverse the placings.
Across at Newbury, the Flat season kicks into gear. In the 1.25, David Menuisier’s Sunway returns after tackling five consecutive Group Ones as a juvenile and looks primed to show his class. The 2.00 features the Fred Darling Stakes, a key 1,000 Guineas trial, where Simmering could assert her claims after a solid campaign at the top level last season.
Rashabar, who has already proven himself in Group One company, lines up in the Greenham Stakes (2.35) but faces improving types like Jonquil, now with Andrew Balding after switching from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard. Finally, Newbury’s 3.12 sees the return of last year’s winner Metal Merchant, who looks capable of a repeat despite carrying 6lb more this time.
The day’s racing promises high drama on both codes, with Ayr set to play a particularly decisive role in shaping the outcome of the trainers’ title. With every race potentially tipping the scales, all eyes will be on how Mullins and Skelton fare in this penultimate showdown.
