Willie Mullins is a hoping his scattergun approach to the 2024 Grand National will help him establish another landmark in his glittering training career.
Mullins has already secured his 18th trainers’ title in Ireland this season, but is now bidding to win the British equivalent for the first ever time.
Vincent O’Brien was the last man to be crowned as champion National Hunt trainer in Britain while based in Ireland in 1954.
A quick look at the latest horse racing betting odds for this year’s National suggests Mullins has a great chance of closing the gap on his title rivals.
The Irishman could have nine runners in the race at Aintree, three of which are in the first six in the ante-post market for the long-distance steeplechase.
Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls are currently ahead of Mullins in the standings, but success in the National would boost his chances of overhauling them.
Punters believe I Am Maximus represents Mullins’ best chance of winning the National having backed the horse into odds of 7/1 over the past couple of weeks.
The eight-year-old gave 12lb and a 14-length beating to Vanillier in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February and should run a big race this weekend.
Vanillier finished second behind Corach Rambler in the 2023 National and had been well supported to go one better prior to his defeat in the Grade 3 event.
Meetingofthewaters is another potential contender for National glory for the Mullins stable, although seven-year-olds do not have a great record in the race.
He finished third in the Ultima Handicap Chase on his most recent outing – a race which Noble Yeats and Corach Rambler contested before winning the National in the past two years.
However, he has been hammered in the weights by the handicapper for a victory at Leopardstown over the festive period and may struggle to be competitive this weekend.
A more likely winner of the National for Mullins is Mr Incredible, who was on course to run well in last year’s National before unseating jockey Brian Hayes.
He was still travelling well after successfully navigating the Canal Turn for the second time, before Hayes was unshipped after his saddle slipped.
The eight-year-old ran a stormer on his seasonal reappearance in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last month, finishing second behind Beauport under top weight.
That run will have put Mr Incredible spot on for Aintree and he is strongly fancied to mount a strong bid to emerge victorious this weekend.
Stattler, Adamantly Chosen, Capodanno, Glengouly, Janidil and Ontheropes are Mullins’ other entries in the National, but none of them appeal as likely winners.
I Am Maximus and Mr Incredible are his best chances of winning the National for the first time since 2005, and it would be no surprise to see both of them in the mix at the business end of the race.
Grand National 2024 Betting
The latest betting for the 2024 Grand National is as follows:
Corach Rambler – 9/2
I Am Maximus – 7/1
Vanillier – 9/1
Meetingofthewaters – 10/1
Panda Boy – 12/1
Kittys Light – 14/1
Mahler Mission – 14/1
Mr Incredible – 14/1
Minello Indo – 18/1
Noble Yeats – 18/1
Nassalam – 20/1
Capodanno – 22/1
Latenightpass – 22-1
Delta Work – 25/1
Galvin – 25/1
Limerick Lace – 25/1
Chemical Energy – 33/1
Coko Beach – 33/1
Galia Des Liteaux – 33/1
Shakem Uparry – 33/1
Adamantly Chosen – 40/1
Desertmore House – 40/1
Glengouly – 40/1
Le Milos – 40/1
Malina Girl – 40/1
Roi Mage – 40/1
Stattler – 40/1
Conflated – 50/1
Fakie Dalene – 50/1
Famous Bridge – 50/1
Farouk Dalene – 50/1
Janidil – 50/1
The Goffer – 50/1
Where It All Began – 50/1
Bar – 66/1
