Willie Mullins targets Scottish Grand National glory with army of Ayr entries as legendary trainer eyes history

Willie Mullins has lined-up a staggering 31-strong army to send to Ayr.

The all-conquering Closutton maestro’s Grand National success at Aintree with I Am Maximus has opened the door for him to join Vincent O’Brien in the history books. Mullins can become just the second Irish trainer to claim the UK jumps championship 70 years after O’Brien secured the prize for a second time.

With the final day at Sandown on Saturday week, he leads nearest-challengers Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls in an epic three-way battle. Mullins has vowed to head for Scotland and set his sights firmly on Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting with 31 horses entered at the five-day declaration stage for Saturday’s showpiece card.

Ayr has a record half-a-million pounds on offer on the day and the Irish master is gunning for the gold in all eight scheduled races. Mullins has ante-post favourite MacDermott in the £200,000 Coral Scottish Grand National and the six-year-old is joined on the entry list by five of his stablemates.

Mr Incredible, who unseated rider Brian Hayes in the Aintree National last weekend, also has an entry along with Ontheropes, Spanish Harlem, Klarc Kent and We’llhavewan.

Rich Ricci-owned Bialystok heads the Mullins challenge in the £100,000 Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle with Westport Cove, Ocastle Des Mottes and Alvaniy completing a quartet for the two-mile cracker over timber.

The Class 1 Scotty Brand Handicap Chase and CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase are both worth £50,000.

Sharjah has an option in both events, with Uncle Phil named for the day’s opener and Klarc Kent in race two if he swerves the big one.

The £45,000 Seafield Trophy for Mares sees Mullins nominate another four in the shape of A Penny a Hundred,