WILLIE MULLINS is ready to wage war on his British rivals after entering a huge 21-runner squad at Ayr on their Scottish Grand National day.
The all-conquering Irish trainer landed the British championship last year thanks in part to Macdermott’s success in their big race.
And the defending champion is set to run again this year after he was included in Mullins 13-strong team for the 4m £200,000 contest.
Other big names include former Grade 1 bumper winner Kilcruit, who warmed up for a potential run at Ayr with a third-place finish behind Hewick earlier this month.
Shark Hanlon’s Hewich has since been smashed in for the Grand National and his trainer reckons he could go off favourite at Aintree on Saturday week.
But it is in the Scottish Champion Hurdle that Mullins looks to really be going for the jugular.
After her brilliant win in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this month, Mullins said wondermare Kargese could head to Ayr next.
He commented: “I’m going to celebrate today and then we will decide what we are going to do.
“Normally I go to Punchestown, but I would have to look if there is something either at Ayr or maybe Aintree.”
And she does indeed headline his eight entries for the Grade 2, which, like the National, will be run on Saturday, April 12.
The Kenny Alexander-owned mare was a blot in the Festival handicap and fully justified her 3-1 favourite odds.
A genuine Grade 1 performer, she could prove the one to beat alongside Mullins’ other possible runner Absurde.
He won the County in 2024 before going on to finish fifth in last November’s Melbourne Cup and was third behind Kargese last time out.
Willie Mullins Scottish Grand National entries
A Penny A Hundred
Captain Cody
Chosen Witness
High Class Hero
Judicieuse Allen
Kilcruit
Klarc Kent
Loughglynn
Macdermott
O’Moore Park
Olympic Man
Quai De Bourbon
Spanish Harlem
Willie Mullins Scottish Champion Hurdle entries
Absurde
Batman Girac
Bunting
Ethical Diamond
Gaucher
Karafon
Kargese
Lot Of Joy