And while there is nothing for the 66-year-old to prove at this point in his career, you would think the Closutton trainer would like to add at least one more Grand National win to his laundry list of accomplishments before his time in the sport is all said and done.
Mullins’ record in National Hunt racing’s preeminent fixture doesn’t make for great reading, with the Irishman’s sole victory coming in 2005 with Hedgehunter. As expected, Mullins has another great opportunity to end that 18-year drought this weekend, with him boasting five entries headlined by Gaillard Du Mesnil and Mr Incredible.
With that in mind, for those who bet on grand national, read on as we look at the aforementioned Gaillard Du Mesnil and Mr Incredible’s form in the lead-up to this year’s renewal in Merseyside and what the pair of 14/1 shots will need to do if they are to secure Mullins with that elusive second Grand National title.
Gaillard Du Mesnil
An up-and-coming prospect with plenty of hype and anticipation surrounding him, French-bred horse Gaillard Du Mesnil has been in good form this season. With a second-place finish to kick off his campaign in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December, the seven-year-old followed that outing up with a dominant seven-and-a-half-length victory over the respected Churchstonewarrior in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown.
As a result, many fans and pundits believed the gelding would prove far too strong for his opposition in the Cheltenham Festival’s National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase. He would ultimately go on to win that contest, but did so in less than convincing fashion.
He will need to improve on that performance if he is to win at Aintree – however – with the potential he has shown in multiple Grade 1 victories since his debut in 2019, he certainly isn’t one to write off.
Mr Incredible
Although Mr Incredible’s record throughout his career to date hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire, there are plenty of people who are high on the seven-year-old due to his seemingly untapped potential.
He looked good in his most recent outing, finishing third in the Cheltenham Festival’s Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase in what was an inspired performance. Couple that with the fact he could have very well won that contest had he not made a blunder at the last, and you can see why the Irish horse has firmed in the betting lines in recent weeks.
However, if the sire of Westerner is to win at Aintree – he will need to buck a Grand National trend that has seen just one winning seven-year-old since 1940. Amazingly, that winner came last year, when 50/1 shot Noble Yeats upset the applecart to reign supreme by just over two lengths from Any Second Now.
