Odds ‘crash’ on Willie Mullins’ Scottish Grand National runner he says is ‘shaping up nicely’
WILLIE MULLINS has seen the odds of one of his Scottish Grand National runners ‘crash’ – after jockey Paul Townend picked it as his No1 ride.
The Irish trainer is hellbent on snatching the British trainers’ title from under the noses of Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls.
His Aintree National hope Mr Incredible, who unseated last weekend, has been pummelled by punters, as has long-time fav Macdermott.
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But Mullins’ trusted jockey Townend has picked Spanish Harlem – who Mullins reported as ‘shaping up nicely’ into a staying chaser earlier this season – as his ride in the big Ayr race.
And as such Ladbrokes report a tidal wave of cash coming in for the unexposed six-year-old.
His odds of claiming the British jumps crown have also shortened significantly given the number of runners he has entered at smaller British tracks over the coming days.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “All eyes will be on the Willie Mullins team this weekend as they head to Ayr with a formidable squad.
“As a result, his odds have crashed to just 1-4 for the trainers’ title in what is expected to be a pivotal day in the race for the crown.
“Spanish Harlem’s odds have also crashed to win the Scottish Grand National since the final declarations, with punters backing the mount of Paul Townend all the way down to 8-1 from 20-1.”
However, it’s Jamie Snowden’s Git Maker who heads the Ayr National market at 7-1.
The eight-year-old was a strong second behind the clearly laid out Inothewayurthinkin in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.
Git Maker doesn’t have that JP McManus runner to worry about on Saturday.
Whacker Clan makes the trip to Ayr for Henry de Bromhead with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle.
But he finished a distant 18 lengths behind Git Maker at Cheltenham and, on that evidence, has loads to make up.
Coral Scottish Grand National via Ladbrokes
7-1 Git Maker
8-1 Spanish Harlem
9-1 Macdermott
10-1 Mr Incredible, Anglers Crag
12-1 Inis Oirr, Whacker Clan
14-1Stay Away Far
16-1 Mr Vango, My Silver Lining
20-1 Beauport, Ballygrifincottage
22-1 Autonomous Cloud
25-1 Klarc Kent, We’llhavewan
28-1 Iron Bridge
33-1 bar
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