Scottish Grand National: Dan Skelton aims to dent Mullins title bid

Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins are going head-to-head again in the race for the trainers’ title. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

For the third time in nine seasons, the Scottish Grand National card at Ayr on Saturday could well prove decisive in the race for the National Hunt trainers’ championship, and Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton have 18 and 10 runners respectively as they reprise their battle for the title 12 months ago.

Mullins was the first Irish-based trainer to win the title for 70 years in 2024, when a golden run through the major festivals in March and April swept him past Skelton, who had been the clear leader for the first 10 months of the campaign.