WILLIE MULLINS has confirmed his all-out assault on British racing – as he entered a staggering 40 horses on Scottish Grand National day.
Last weekend's Grand National winner – who – is going all guns blazing in his bid to land the British jumps trainer's title.
Saturday's Scottish Grand National card at Ayr will be the first port of call for Closutton boss Mullins.
He won the big race last year with Macdermott – and he is one of 40 Mullins horses entered for just one day.
In the feature National, Mullins will send Macdermott to defend his crown.
But it's Chosen Witness who's the one who's coming for a surge of early money.
Available at 14s, race sponsors Coral now make him no bigger than 8-1 for the £200,000 race, while others go 6-1.
Aside from those two, Mullins has also entered High Class Hero, Loughglynn, Olympic Man, Captain Cody, O'Moore Park, Spanish Harlem, A Penny A Hundred, Judicieuse Allen and Klarc Kent.
The real big names from his yard come in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, though.
County Hurdle winner Kargese is the early 5-2 market leader.
But Mullins has entered former County winner Absurde and Ethical Diamond – while Tony Bloom's Bunting has an entry too.
Making up the considerable numbers are Lot Of Joy, Batman Girac and Karafon.
There are a whole host of other big names in the day's other races too.
Former Supreme fancy Tullyhill and Western Diego are in the opener at 1.10pm, a 2m handicap chase.
In the 3m handicap chase off next Mullins has entered a few of his National runners like Captain Cody but also Lombron.
The Champion Hurdle is at 2.15pm before a mares' handicap hurdle some 40 minutes later.
Mullins has two in that – Paggane and Armed And Fabulous – before the National at 3.35pm.
In the novices' handicap hurdle after that Mullins has six: Armed And Fabulous, C'Est Ta Chance, Chart Topper, Fishery Lane, Inn At The Park and Jump Allen.
Chart Topper and Jump Allen could run in the 4.45pm Tennent's Lager Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f with Kiss Will and Kalix Delabarriere also entered.
While in the concluding bumper at 5.20pm Mullins has entered Doctor Du Mesnil, Dysart Dolomite and Eclipse Chaser.
The massive number of entries saw Coral cut Mullins' odds of winning the trainer title to 1-4 from 4-7.
The firm's David Stevens said: “We already knew Willie Mullins intended to send a strong team to Ayr this Saturday, but the numerical strength of his raiding party has seen his title odds slashed to 1-4 from 4-7.
“While his runners also dominate the betting for both the Coral Scottish Grand National, and the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle.
“Dan Skelton won’t be waving the white flag though, and he has plenty of his own runners over the two day meeting, although he is now out to 5-2 to win a first championship.”
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