If Willie Mullins turns up at Ayr on Saturday with Chosen Witness and leaves with the Coral Scottish Grand National trophy, there’s a good chance someone’s going to ask if he’s got a genie in his pocket.
The man already bagged the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National as well as a stack of top races this season — so why not add one more to the list?
With Chosen Witness, he’s got a horse that’s lightly raced, on the up, and just mysterious enough to keep punters guessing.
And that’s exactly what makes this one so interesting. Chosen Witness hasn’t been over fences that long, and there is room for improvement.
Now stepped up in trip and dropped a couple of pounds by the handicapper, he looks like Mullins’s wildcard — the kind of runner you ignore at your peril.
Chosen Witness: The Race Favourite
Willie Mullins is vying for back-to-back wins in this prestigious race and is aiming to secure his second consecutive British Trainers’ Championship.
With a wave of support propelling Chosen Witness into favouritism, the question remains: can this horse rise to the occasion and deliver a fairy-tale victory?
Chosen Witness has had an intriguing career trajectory. Bred by John Dunford Jr., he has shown flashes of brilliance but remains an enigma in terms of consistency.
From an objective standpoint, it’s kind of hard to see why exactly he is that favourite given that he has only ever had three chase starts, won one of them, and his only 3rd place finish netted him £930.
It’s fair to say that his transition to chasing has been less than smooth. Last time out, he unseated his rider at Navan in February while still in contention during a Grade 2 race.
Despite these setbacks, his potential remains undeniable.
Chosen Witness enters Saturday’s race with a favourable handicap mark of 137 and has been backed heavily, shortening from 16/1 to as little as 11/2, a clear indication of confidence among punters.
His ability to stay the distance over four miles at Ayr will be crucial, especially given the nature of this marathon test.
The Master Trainer
Willie Mullins is no stranger to success. The Closutton maestro has redefined excellence in National Hunt racing with an unparalleled record that includes multiple Cheltenham Festival titles and Grand National victories.
His dominance was on full display last week at Aintree when he saddled the first three finishers in the Grand National, a feat that solidified his status as one of the greatest trainers in history.
Mullins is currently locked in a fierce battle for the British Trainers’ Championship with Dan Skelton.
After dramatically closing the gap at Aintree, Mullins now turns his attention to Ayr as he seeks another major prize to bolster his title defence.
His approach is strategic and ambitious; he fields six runners in the Scottish Grand National alone, including Chosen Witness as his leading hope.
Should Chosen Witness Be the Favourite?
Chosen Witness might not be the flashiest name in the field, but there’s plenty to like about his chances — and a few reasons to raise an eyebrow, too.
For starters, he’s already shown he can handle Ayr, having won there last year, which gives him a tick in the course form box.
He’s running off a mark of 137, which could turn out to be a smart bit of placing. And let’s not forget who’s training him — Willie Mullins has a knack for getting big performances out of horses that might not look like world-beaters on paper.
It also helps that this race has been kind to novices in the past. Mullins trained last year’s winner, Macdermott, who hadn’t exactly been racking up chase wins before landing the prize. So there’s a decent precedent here.
That said, there are a few things that could trip Chosen Witness up. He’s only had three runs over fences, which isn’t much experience for a race as demanding as this.
He also came unstuck at Navan, where he unseated his rider — not ideal in a race where jumping cleanly is key.
And then there’s the small matter of the opposition. Horses like Rock My Way and Surrey Quest have strong staying form and plenty of fans.
Sean O’Keeffe is in the saddle — a good jockey, no question — but he’s stepping in for Paul Townend, who’s sitting this one out.
The Bigger Picture: Mullins’ Quest for Greatness
Beyond Chosen Witness’ individual prospects lies Mullins’ broader ambition.
A victory here would further cement his dominance in British racing and edge him closer to retaining his trainers’ championship title, a remarkable achievement given that he was the first Irish trainer to win it last year after a 70-year drought.
Mullins’ ability to extract peak performances from his horses underpins Chosen Witness’ candidacy as a serious contender.
If anyone can transform potential into victory on racing’s grandest stages, it’s Willie Mullins.
Chosen Witness embodies both promise and uncertainty heading into Saturday’s Scottish Grand National.
While his chase form leaves room for improvement, his course familiarity and favourable weight make him an intriguing contender.
Under Willie Mullins’ expert stewardship, and with fans rallying behind him, Chosen Witness could very well script a fairy-tale ending at Ayr.
Whether or not he delivers remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Chosen Witness is a horse worth watching as Mullins continues raising the bar in National Hunt racing.
BETFRED
