Willie Mullins horse with ‘huge engine’ smashed in Grand National betting as Irish trainer targets total domination

A TOP Willie Mullins horse with a ‘huge engine’ has been smashed in the Grand National market – as the Irish trainer targets total jumps domination.

Mr Incredible has been cut into 16-1 from 20s on the back of strong market support for the world’s most famous race on Saturday week.

AFPMullins has entered a load of runners for the Grand National, Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown[/caption]

Owned by Paul Byrne – who has been dubbed ‘the shrewdest guy in racing‘ – Mr Incredible was an encouraging runner-up in the recent Midlands National.

Currently 22nd on the list of potential runners, the eight-year-old is certain of a run in the £1million race.

He has shown a liking for soft ground and the suspicion is that there remains plenty of untapped potential in the lightly-raced sort.

Mullins’ work rider Luke Turner hops on the horse every day at home and he told the Racing Post he has a ‘huge engine’.

He added: “Teachers might have one maverick child in their class and that’s him.”

Bookies are going 1-3 for the National to be run on soft, while they are 2-1 for it be on heavy for the first time since 2018.

Aintree’s three-day Grand National Festival, which starts next Thursday, looks like it could be a wet one.

There is an unsettled forecast between now and the big day – with horses who love the mud proving popular.

Then again, every horse trained by Mullins has a chance.

He currently has nine remaining in the National before five-day entries on Monday and the final 48-hour declarations on Thursday.

Mr Incredible is typical of the Closutton trainer, being entered in the Grand National, the Scottish Grand National (20-1) and the season-ending bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, for which he is 25-1.

Mullins has ten horses in the Scottish marathon contest and a further 13 in the bet365 Gold Cup.

It’s no wonder BoyleSports are reporting a load of cash for him to be crowned top UK trainer too.

He is now 5-1 from 9-1 to beat Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton – who had four winners at Cheltenham Festival – to the title.

Mullins has amassed prize money earnings of just under £2million from only 97 British runs this season.

Skelton leads the way currently with £2,584,739 from 693 runs with Nicholls close behind on £2,567,272 from 478.

Nicholls is 2-5 to claim a record-equalling 15th crown.

But Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “With just three weeks to go until the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship is decided at Sandown, punters have latched on to Mullins to come with a late run and snatch victory off Nicholls and Skelton.”

UK National Hunt Trainers Championship 2023/24

2-5 Paul Nicholls
3-1 Dan Skelton
5-1 Willie Mullins
33-1 Nicky Henderson

Grand National odds

4-1 Corach Rambler
9-1 I Am Maximus
10-1 Vanillier
12-1 Panda Boy
14-1 Kitty’s Light, Mahler Mission, Meetingofthewaters
16-1 Minella Indo, Mr Incredible, Noble Yeats
20-1 Bar