Macdermott can win the Scottish National again

FOLLOWING victory in the Randox Grand National last week, Willie Mullins can win the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.35pm) with last year’s hero Macdermott at Ayr this afternoon.

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Following the highs of Nick Rockett’s victory at Aintree, the County Carlow handler has his eyes on a second successive British trainer's title - and he can be helped by Macdermott, who can be the first dual winner of this race since Vicente in 2016 and 2017.

Mullins has a number of entries in the 4m feature who could easily triumph. And despite an underwhelming campaign following last year's narrow success, Macdermott can score again under Danny Mullins.

Since his win in last year’s Scottish National, when he just pipped the reopposing Surrey Quest, Macdemott has been pulled up twice, finished down the field in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and unseated Danny Mullins at the start after he jinked right in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park - a race eventually won by Nick Rockett.

He is better than he showed when pulled up in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February where he made an uncharacteristic mistake - and at just seven and with only 10 chase starts, he can still improve.

Back on decent ground at a track he clearly likes, he can bounce back to form and if he puts it all together like he did 12 months ago he will give Mullins another big National victory.

Stable-mates Chosen Witness - a winner at this meeting over hurdles last year - and Olympic Man, who will be ridden by Aintree hero Patrick Mullins, can also run big races for the Mullins team.