Last year's winner Macdermott is one of 11 possible runners for Willie Mullins in the Coral Scottish Grand National as he goes all out in defence of the trainers' championship in Britain.
The current holder looked to face a stiff task before Aintree’s three-day meeting but he went on to land five Grade One wins, a Grade Two and the Topham alongside his incredible feat of providing five of the first seven home in the Grand National, meaning he took home the lion’s share of £1m in that race alone.
All of a sudden, Dan Skelton’s lead is down to just over £120,000 and Mullins is now taking dead aim at Ayr.
Mullins’ Chosen Witness has been put in as the 8-1 ante-post favourite by the sponsors, while the likes of High Class Hero, Captain Cody, Olympic Man and O’Moore Park could form part of his team in a race for which 33 remain in contention, with a maximum field of 30 allowed.
Skelton has three potential runners in Sail Away, Theformismighty and Snipe – and all are big prices.
Other entries of note include the Lucinda Russell pair of Apple Away and Whistle Stop Tour, Ben Pauling’s Henry’s Friend and Joe Tizzard’s Rock My Way.
Skelton has just one of the 18 left in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle in Valgrand, while Mullins has seven, including the last two winners of Cheltenham’s County Hurdle in Kargese and Absurde.
Nicky Henderson has entered Joyeuse and Under Control, Dysart Enos has been left in by Fergal O’Brien and the in-form Paul Nicholls could run Kabral Du Mathan.
