Willie Mullins assesses his Grand National runners

Willie Mullins has his usual strong hand in the 2023 Grand National and has given his thoughts on his possible entries for the Aintree showpiece.

Mullins seems sweet on the chances of Mr Incredible following his good run at Warwick recently. Having just his second start since leaving Henry de Bromhead, Mr Incredible finished second to Iwilldoit in the Classic Chase – a race which has been a good pointer to Aintree in the past.

Mullins has several others with leading claims, including Grade One-winning novices Capodanno and Gaillard Du Mesnil, with Thyestes winner Carefully Selected another to consider.

There are still nearly two months to go until the big race on April 15 but the countdown is on and the Grand National odds have been updated after the weights were unveiled on Tuesday.

We have already heard what many of the leading connections think but here is how the Closutton handler assesses the chances of all the Willie Mullins Grand National runners.

Willie Mullins Grand National runners

Burrows Saint (10st 12lb)

“Burrows Saint jumps well around the National, finished fourth in 2021. He’s had a little bit of time off with a few training problems and he comes back for his first run in the Bobbyjo this week. That’s usually a good pointer for the National. If he runs well there he could have a good crack at the National.”

Capodanno (11st 5lb)

“Capodanno is very interesting. He won a three-mile Grade One novice at the end of last season, I think he stays the trip. At the moment I think we’re going for the Gold Cup.”

Carefully Selected (11st 1lb)

“Carefully Selected won the Thyestes and the Thyestes, at our local track at Gowran Park, is always a great guide to the Grand National so I’ve no problem with him staying the trip and I’ve no problem with him jump around. He’s a good each-way, I think, for the National.”

Thriller! 👏

Carefully Selected holds on to deny the gallant Dunboyne in the @Goffs1866 Thyestes Handicap Chase, with the 11-year-old finding plenty for pressure under @PTownend and score for trainer @WillieMullinsNH 🥇 pic.twitter.com/pDRPMTidZJ

— Gowran Park (@GowranPark1) January 26, 2023

Franco De Port (11st 3lb)

“Franco De Port is another who loves a trip and loves jumping. He was third in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris and that sort of form would give him a chance in a National.”

Gaillard Du Mesnil (11st)

“Gaillard Du Mesnil is a novice in name, (but) he’s a second-season novice. He eventually broke his maiden at Christmas, winning a three-mile Grade One novice at Leopardstown and that’s good form. He jumps and stays and will probably go to Cheltenham first and, all being well, have a good crack at the National after that.”

Mr Incredible (10st 4lb)

“Mr Incredible is a nice horse and that run at Warwick puts him right in there – I think he has a nice weight for the National too.”

Did we see any true @RandoxHealth Grand National contenders in @WarwickRaces’s Classic Chase 👀

MR INCREDIBLE certainly caught the eye behind the winner IWILLDOIT 🤔 pic.twitter.com/GR84vd4U9a

— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) January 16, 2023

Recite A Prayer (10st 1lb)

“Recite A Prayer ran around Aintree and is usually a very good jumper. He’s a horse that lots of lads will putting their hands up to ride.”

Overall verdict

“You have Grade One form with Capodanno and Gaillard Du Mesnil, but I think Mr Incredible is a nice horse and his run in Warwick puts him right there.”

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