Willie Mullins goes Grand National-crazy with a staggering 44 entries that could land him almost £1million
WILLIE MULLINS is going all out to finish the jumps season with a bang – and a huge pay cheque in his back pocket.
The all-conquering trainer has entered a staggering 44 horses across three Grand Nationals.
I Am Maximus will lead Willie Mullins’ squad into battle in the Grand National – but the master trainer has a huge army running in two other Nationals in Scotland and Ireland[/caption]
The most dominant trainer in the game doesn’t have a favourite in the Aintree, Scottish or Irish feature contests.
But he has the defending champ in two of the three and victory in all of them would net him almost £1million.
Jumps fans are treated to an awesome end-of-season bash with three of the most dramatic, action-packed races all year taking place over two-and-a-bit glorious weeks.
First up on Saturday week is the big one, the £1m Grand National at Aintree.
Mullins has nine remaining in that race, headlined by last year’s winner I Am Maximus.
The JP McManus-owned beast could not have been more impressive 12 months ago but has been lumbered with top weight 11st12lbs this time round.
Mullins has picked out 25-1 Meetingofthewaters, another McManus-owned runner, as the pick of his at the weights.
But he is also set to run the likes of Nick Rockett, Grangeclare West, Appreciate It, Capodanno, Minella Cocooner, Macdermott and Spanish Harlem.
However, it looks like the last two in particular could be heading to Ayr the following weekend for the £200,000 Scottish Grand National.
Unlike most Mullins runners, Macdermott was a total barge on the day but eventually won a thriller at 18-1, beating Surrey Quest by a nose.
Mullins has entered 13 in the Scottish feature in all, with Spanish Harlem the only other one entered at Aintree.
Bookies reckon his Gigginstown-owned Quai De Bourbon has the best chance.
He’s a best-price 16-1 behind 10-1 market leader Johnnywho and 12-1 second fav The Changing Man.
Mullins could also run A Penny A Hundred, Captain Cody, Chosen Witness, High Class Hero, Judicieuse Allen, Kilcruit, Klarc Kent, Loughglynn, O’Moore Park and Olympic Man.
But it is in the Irish National that Mullins has entered his biggest squad of all.
And where we could see one attempt an audacious Aintree-Fairyhouse double.
The final big National takes place at the Irish track on Monday, April 21.
The weights were recently released and Mullins has put a whopping 22 in the contest worth just shy of £226,000 to the winner.
Some of the big names from Aintree are doubly entered including I Am Maximus, Nick Rockett and Meetingofthewaters.
But there are several other fascinating potential runners, none more so than Dancing City.
The three-time Grade 1 winner was last seen looking laboured and finishing 28 lengths behind shock Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson at this month’s Cheltenham Festival.
A superstar stayer on his day, Mullins could opt to try him over a new trip – along with Impaire Et Passe.
The four-time Grade 1 king has never even raced three miles but has an entry in the 3m5f contest and is a best-price 25-1 to land the race won last year by Intense Raffles.
They are two of the possible Mullins runners without an entry in either of the other Nationals.
Recent Kim Muir third Sa Majeste is another, as is recent Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned Paggane, who was a winner at Clonmel last time out and has good form behind Gavin Cromwell’s highly rated mare Bioluminescence.
The other Mullins runners entered in the Irish National are Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner, Kilcruit, High Class Hero, Quai De Bourbon, Meetingofthewaters, Loughglynn, Olympic Man, Macdermott, Captain Cody, Spanish Harlem, A Penny A Hundred, Chosen Witness, Judicieuse Allen, Klarc Kent and Iris Emery.
Unlikely as it may seem, victory in all three Nationals would net Mullins a monster £838,444.
Add in the additional cash for those finishing in the places and it’s very likely the Closutton boss could smash the £1m mark.
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