Ross Millar: Grand National reflections plus top tips for Monday

It is often said that, each year, the Randox result throws up a story with real and deep emotion attached to it, yet anyone looking for the emotional result ahead of this year’s race might well have disregarded the six runners representing Willie Mullins. 

After all, this is the man that has won it all, and most of it twice. However, in the immediate aftermath of Nick Rockett’s tenacious and classy win (only Many Clouds has carried more weight to victory this century) even Mullins, a man who we expect to remain calm and objective when delivering his considered post-race interviews, was so overcome by the emotion of seeing his son pilot the winner that he was simply unable to speak. 

It was a reminder that I, and maybe some others, needed. Yes, his absolute dominance of the National Hunt scene comes with some downsides, but this is an endeavour built on hard work, determination and, above all, a deep-rooted passion for the thoroughbred. We should be sure to enjoy these achievements. 

By virtue of landing five of the eleven Grade One contests, as well as a Grade Two and, more significantly, the lions share of the £1,000,000 on offer in the Randox Grand National, Mullins now finds himself just £122,000 behind Dan Skelton in the British Trainers' Championship. We will now surely be the beneficiary of a closely fought battle to the line, meaning an increased interest level in both Ayr and Sandown, along with Perth and Taunton, and wherever else the Closutton maestro can find a winnable race! It’s a narrative few saw coming, and I’m more than willing to enjoy it! 

Sunday saw a double retirement from the jockey ranks with both Alan Johns and Nick Scholfield calling time on their careers. Johns has already started to carve out a second career with some excellent social media content, and is clearly well liked by his piers. Lets hope racing utilises this to promote the sport to a new audience.

Scholfield was as stylish in the saddle as you’ll ever see and while winners have become harder to find in recent seasons, his ride on Santini when fourth in the 2022 epitomised his talent in the saddle. He always struck me as a rider with real empathy for his equine partner, and this is surely a quality that will help him succeed in his new career as trainer. 

Onto Monday's action and I have found three selections for the action at Kelso, live on Racing TV. Best of luck.

By virtue of a lean spell through late 2023, and the summer of 2024, had dropped to what looked like an attractive handicap mark before winning on his penultimate start over 2m4f at Carlisle. 

Held up towards the rear, he moved strongly through to take the lead before a good jump at the last helped him repel the strong challenge of Dominic’s Fault. That rival boosted the form when winning comfortably off a 4lb higher mark on his next start before looking to be travelling nicely when brought down at Sandown, off a further 9lb rise, on his latest outing. 

Kilbrainy was unable to reproduce his Carlisle form on his next start at Ayr where it looked like the livelier ground on a flatter track didn’t help bring out his stamina. He did still finish to good effect, though. 

He now moves back onto good, good to soft ground, and is returning to a stiffer track over an additional furlong, which should give him an excellent chance of winning this. 

Stuart Coltherd had to endure a long period through the winter where he struggled to get his yard into top form. However, the past couple of months have generally been far more productive. 

In Flash Du Pistolet, he seems to have a rapidly improving chaser. A front-running ride at Newcastle on his penultimate start saw him shed his maiden tag in impressive style before he coped with a 6lb rise, and a drop in trip, to win over this course and distance on his latest outing, where a prominent ride again made the most of his excellent jumping. 

A 9lb rise will demand more here, but he’s partnered with Ross Chapman again and looks a thoroughly progressive individual. 

I’ll be keen to follow him until it’s conclusively proven that the handicapper has his measure. 

The fitness of the Maurice Barnes-trained does have to be taken on trust as he returns from a 274-day absence here, but he ran well on his previous return from a break when second at Uttoxeter in May over this same trip. 

He was eight lengths behind Collectors Item on that occasion, and while that rival is now rated 10lb higher, Saint Arvans, by virtue of a couple of moderate, but not desperate, efforts, races off 5lb lower rating here. 

The winner of this race in 2023 off the same rating, he clearly enjoys this track and conditions. Conditional jockey Charlie Price has had just seven rides in the past fortnight, but they’ve yielded a pair of winners, both for Maurice Barnes. 

The partnership have a solid chance of, at the very least, hitting the frame here, and with three places available, Saint Arvans makes plenty of appeal as an each-way selection.