There was nothing ordinary about the way Captain Cody landed the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in 2025. Not just the result, but what came before it.
In the moments leading up to the race, Willie Mullins offered jockey Harry Cobden a piece of advice that raised more than a few eyebrows. Captain Cody, he said, had a habit of winning for female riders.
“I said put on a girly voice,” Mullins explained afterwards.
Cobden clearly found the right tone. What followed was a calm, well-timed ride over four miles, sitting quietly before delivering his challenge late to get the better of stablemate Klarc Kent. The result was a Scottish National victory, and attention quickly turned to Aintree.
The Kind of Profile That Keeps Coming Up
Looking at his record now, it is easy to see why connections feel he belongs in the Grand National conversation.
At eight years old, he fits neatly into the age range that has produced most recent winners. His allotted weight of 10st 10lb sits in the bracket that tends to give horses a realistic chance of seeing out the trip without being anchored by the handicap.
There is also the Irish angle. Horses trained in Ireland have dominated the race in recent years, and Captain Cody comes from the most successful yard in jumps racing.
Speaking before the race at a media day, Patrick Mullins was clear in his assessment:
“The manner that he won the Scottish National was so eye-catching. He's got a perfect profile for the race. He was a little bit disappointing at Christmas and then fell in the Thyestes which is not ideal but with his weight he will be very dangerous.”
That point about the weight matters. Horses that win the Grand National are rarely burdened with excessive loads. Captain Cody’s mark gives him the chance to travel and jump without constantly being on the back foot.
What Ayr Showed
The win at Ayr told you more than just the fact he stays four miles.
It showed how he races. Cobden allowed things to unfold in front of him, keeping the horse settled through the early and middle stages before asking for an effort when it counted. Captain Cody responded, quickening late and holding off Klarc Kent by a length.
That ability to find something at the finish is often what separates horses who run well in the Grand National from those who actually win it.
Before that success, his chasing record had been steady rather than striking. Ayr changed the picture. It showed he could handle a big field, a long trip, and a competitive handicap.
A Winter That Has Raised Questions
The campaign since has not followed the same upward line.
He began the season in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse, finishing third behind Romeo Coolio over a shorter trip. At Leopardstown over Christmas, he was seventh in the Paddy Power Chase on yielding ground in a strong field.
The biggest setback came at Gowran Park in the Thyestes Chase. Sent off as the 7/2 favourite under Paul Townend, he fell early in the race. That was a missed opportunity in what is often used as a key trial for Aintree.
His next run at Fairyhouse in February brought a fifth-place finish on heavy ground, beaten around fourteen lengths by Grangeclare West.
On paper, those runs do not inspire confidence. But they do not necessarily tell the full story either. Conditions, trip, and race setup have not always played to his strengths in the same way they did at Ayr.
Does He Match What the Race Demands?
When you line him up against the usual Grand National trends, much of it falls into place.
The age is right. The weight is workable. He has already proven he can win over a marathon trip, something only a handful of runners can genuinely claim.
He has experience in large-field handicaps and has shown he can travel comfortably before producing a finishing effort late on.
The concern is recent form. Many recent winners have arrived at Aintree off the back of a strong run, often finishing in the first four on their previous start. Captain Cody does not tick that box.
The Case Heading Into Aintree
There is a clear argument that his current position in the market reflects a below-par winter rather than his true level.
A horse that has already won a race like the Scottish Grand National, over a similar distance and in a competitive field, cannot be dismissed lightly. The ability is there, and the conditions at Aintree could bring it back out.
Mullins does not send runners to this race without purpose. His record speaks for itself, and when his team point to a horse’s profile as being “perfect,” it is worth taking seriously.
Captain Cody may not arrive with the cleanest preparation, but the ingredients are there. The stamina, the weight, and the experience of winning a major staying handicap all give him a solid foundation.
And if it comes together on the day, the story that began with an unusual pre-race instruction at Ayr could yet have another chapter at Aintree.
