Irish trainer Willie Mullins is a leading contender for the British Jump Trainers’ Championship but needs a victory in the Grand National if he is to close the current gap, according to Ruby Walsh.
As things stand, Mullins sits third in the standings behind current champion Paul Nicholls and table-topper Dan Skelton, who also bagged winners at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, a big-money victory in the Grand National at Aintree would put the Irishman within touching distance of winning the British Jump Trainers’ title.
The majority of his big hitters who triumphed at Cheltenham won’t be making the trip to Merseyside for the three-day meeting though, with Mullins opting to run them at Punchestown instead.
Grand National odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise, you can read Ruby Walsh’s thoughts on Willie Mullins’ British Jump Trainers’ Championship hopes and Aintree squad below.
Ruby Walsh:
He’s about 600 grand behind or there or thereabouts – he needs to win the National. He could and I suppose if he sends a couple a day before the Grand National and he happens to win another 100 or 200 thousand at the meeting and then happened to win the National.
But look he could be first, second, third, fourth and fifth in the National and then he will be champion trainer.
I don’t think he will be but he needs to win the National. He has entries in the Scottish National and in the bet365 and there’s a couple of big pots, but it does come down to winning a Grand National.
[Willie will] send a few [to Aintree for the Grand National Festival] – I can’t see many of the Cheltenham winners going.
Willie will bring runners, but not a massive squad. If you’re looking at the winners, Lossiemouth will go to Punchestown, State Man will go to Punchestown, Ballyburn will go to Punchestown and the Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior will go to Punchestown.
A lot of the winners will go to Punchestown and those that didn’t win might end up in Aintree.
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