Mullins Tight Lipped About Grand National Jockeys

Ireland’s Champion Trainer Willie Mullins may have seen his list of 2014 Crabbies Grand national entries diminish over the last few weeks but he still has two lively contenders for Saturday’s contest, the problem now is who will ride them?

With the unfortunate injury sustained by Ruby Walsh sidelining him for the Aintree Festival, Mullins must now look else where to find a suitable partner for his best chance Prince De Beauchene.

He also has Vesper Bell in contention but with only days to go has remained tight lipped about who will be riding either of them but to the most likely to saddle up on the day appear to be Paul Townend and David Casey.

Prince De Beauchene has managed to avoid injury on to the run up to this year’s Grand National, something he hadn’t managed to do in the past having twice been entered and subsequently withdrawn and he’s ticking all of the right boxes for Mullins.

At the end of his training yesterday Mullins said: “He did a fine bit of work today so that’ll be enough.

“Hopefully, he’ll stay right, now to Saturday. The ground won’t be a problem.”

And speaking of his 50/1 shot, Vesper Bell he said he was “very pleased” with his last bit of work and described him as “an out-and-out stayer”.

Can Willie Mullins pick up his second Grand National on Saturday? He hasn’t won since 2005 when Hedgehunter romped home and neither horse is a current favourite though 16/1 for Prince De Beauchene is pretty close.

For the full list of all of the 2014 Crabbies Grand National Odds click here.