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00:01There are so many improbables.
00:02Anything can happen.
00:04There's nerves, expectation.
00:07This is it.
00:08Who will win the trainers' championship?
00:11It's a lifetime opportunity.
00:13I'm going to turn it right up.
00:22If you could battle the adrenaline highly, yes,
00:24you'd be very, very rich.
00:27This season, we're set for the most extraordinary,
00:29unpredictable drama.
00:31That is insane!
00:34Everybody is a rival.
00:38The competition is going to be hotter than ever.
00:44It is a very dangerous way to make a living.
00:47I just felt my pelvis break, everything snapped.
00:53Oh, no!
00:54To win is the dream.
00:57When you see the winning post, everything slows down.
01:00Go on, Freddie!
01:16Air is really special for a number of reasons.
01:19The Scottish Grand Nationals, one of the most historic and famous races of the year.
01:26And this year, again, it's the battleground in the race to be champion trainer.
01:30Dan Scalton alongside me.
01:31This race could define the trainers' championship.
01:34Yeah, it could.
01:36There's a lot on offer.
01:37We could do with a nice slice of this.
01:39Good luck here.
01:40All right, cheers.
01:41The trainers' championship is totally based around prize money.
01:45Every race that you win, the prize money goes to your total.
01:49Not you again!
01:51We've got two weeks to go, and the Coral Scottish Grand National is one of the last big prize pots of the season.
01:58200,000.
01:59It's huge.
02:01Who's going to take her, then?
02:03So there are two men left standing in the race to be champion trainer.
02:06Britain's Dan Scalton against Arlen's Willie Mullins in a head-to-head.
02:10And it's quite clearly going down to the wire.
02:12Come on, I'll get in.
02:14The competition's going to be fierce, and all we want to do is win.
02:19It's a shootout, isn't it?
02:21You have to make them count.
02:23How are you?
02:24Irishman to an Irishman messing up.
02:27Willie is trying to make history.
02:30Back-to-back wins.
02:31He is hungry.
02:33Thank you very much.
02:35It's one of those rare things in sport that very few people ever achieve.
02:40It sets you apart from your peers.
02:45It's a lifetime opportunity.
02:49Dan Scalton is vying to win his first British trainers' title.
02:54I don't know what I'd feel if I won the trainers' championship,
02:58but, yeah, I'd love to know what it feels like,
03:00and I'll explain very, very happily for you what it felt like.
03:04But it's got to happen.
03:07Willie Mullins, congratulations, sir.
03:11This title race has been going to the wire the last two seasons.
03:15Last year, it was so close.
03:18Do you want to have a hanky?
03:20You know, I got beat in the championship on the last day.
03:23Oh, poor boy!
03:25That pain of failure lasts so much longer than the joy of victory.
03:30Next year.
03:33Willie actually said afterwards,
03:34you've got to lose one to win one.
03:37I hope he's right.
03:39Are we going to win it?
03:40Of course we are.
03:41See? Are we going to win it?
03:42Yes.
03:43There you go.
03:44Don't you worry about that.
03:45We believe.
03:47Dan's progress over the last decade has been incredible to watch.
04:03He's still young in terms of being a trainer,
04:05but he's absolutely in the top tier of Britain's top trainers.
04:09Just same again, Jay.
04:11Yeah.
04:17Oh, that's lovely.
04:19Bye.
04:21How's Whiskers the cat?
04:23I have a lucky black hat.
04:25Would you like to stroke Whiskers?
04:30That was another call, Dan, someone supporting you from Cornwall,
04:33sending you Cornish luck.
04:35Thank you very much.
04:36And is Cornish luck better than other lucks?
04:37Yeah.
04:38I do like Cornwall.
04:42We enjoy the sport we're in, and we want to be successful in it.
04:46We want to lift trophies.
04:48We want to get to the top.
04:50Come on, boy.
04:52My relationship with Harry is probably unlike anybody else's in racing
04:55because we're brothers.
04:57Harry rides more or less exclusively for me.
05:00His success is directly linked to mine,
05:02which is how we want it.
05:07We've been around horse all our life, and it's all we know.
05:10Just some jumping in, Harry.
05:17Families are funny things,
05:18and the Skelton family is an extraordinary one.
05:21Yeah, good, Stace.
05:23They are a formidable team.
05:25I think of the two things we're trying to do this year,
05:28the Jockey Cup and the Trainers' Championship.
05:32If everything went to plan,
05:33it would be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement,
05:35and it will be enough.
05:36Going into the Grand National meeting at Aintree,
05:42Dan's had his best ever season.
05:45He's amassed over £3 million so far,
05:47and he's about £860,000 ahead of his closest rival, Paul Nicholls.
05:52Ladies and gentlemen, you can please join us in the trophy presentation
05:55for the inaugural running of the David Power Jockey's Cup.
06:00And that's left Harry Skelton heading up the David Power Jockey's Cup.
06:11It's a brand-new initiative,
06:14and it's run for six months throughout all the jumps races on ITV,
06:17where jockeys have been able to accumulate points.
06:20And so I am delighted to welcome on the stage Harry Skelton!
06:26To win the first David Power Jockey's Cup, to be honest, it's a great honour.
06:31Harry Skelton takes home the winning prize of £500,000.
06:39I don't know what Harry would do with the money.
06:42I mean, I could give a bit to his brother.
06:45That'd be a nice thing to do, wouldn't it?
06:47I think I'd blow the lot, to be honest.
06:51Nah, I'm no-joking.
06:53Let's remind ourselves that some of the high-profile wins
06:55Harry has secured this season.
06:59This time Harry Skelton has not blinked.
07:02Cheeky enough here.
07:04Fortun de Mer gets revenge.
07:06Throughout the season, it's Harry's Jockey Cup total racked up.
07:10But Lodosu, driven clear, is going to complete doubles
07:13for Harry and Dan Skelton.
07:15So, too, the Dan's trainers' Championship prize pot.
07:17The Betfair heavy of the eighth.
07:18Obviously, Steve will chase Lodosu.
07:20Probably had more runners than we've ever had.
07:22More prize many than we've ever had.
07:24And we've got a good jump on the others.
07:26Harry Skelton is getting up!
07:28The new line has won the turners!
07:30The Skelton's have been in really good form all season.
07:34He's flying along at the moment.
07:35I think it'll be very hard to beat this year.
07:38The double is seriously real.
07:41It's on.
07:43Winning the Jockey Cup won't sort of mean Harry
07:46rest on his laurels.
07:48He is relentless.
07:49We're in a great position to be vying for a trainers' championship.
07:53That's the one we're missing.
07:55We're gunning for the double.
07:59Hang on.
08:00Two seconds.
08:01One second.
08:02Go on!
08:04They're away!
08:05First time!
08:07But a few hours after the presentation,
08:09the most lucrative jump race of the season is on.
08:12And Dan is in the stands without a runner.
08:16And now the conclusion of the Grand National.
08:20Five of Willy's horses are in a line.
08:23Somebody, please, from somewhere, can we have a miracle?
08:29The moment they crossed the line, I thought,
08:31oh, fuck.
08:33Willy Mullins has had five of the first seven.
08:36Keeps him with the chance of being champion trainer.
08:39For Willy Mullins to accumulate over £860,000 in one jumps race,
08:47I don't think it'll ever be matched.
08:51Going into the air,
08:53Dan is only around £140,000 ahead of Willy.
08:58We've got three weeks left of the season.
09:01It's going to be an absolutely incredible finale.
09:04Dan Skelton must feel that Willy's just driven a bulldozer
09:06to the house that he's been building all his life and knocked it down.
09:10It's going to be a lot tougher than people think.
09:14But, you know, Dan is not laying down and taking this to sleep.
09:17He's going to bring out everything he has.
09:19Everything he has.
09:35Air is a huge moment.
09:38It's going to be crucial in the trainers' championship.
09:41Big prize money there.
09:43Counting to transmission in 15.
09:45Dan Skelton is still in front,
09:47but he can feel the breath of Willy Mullins on his neck.
09:49Out cue in five.
09:51Willy Mullins dispatching his riders.
09:53This is absolutely his aim to win the title again.
09:55Out in two.
09:57One. Sarah.
09:59And there is £112,000 to the winner of the Coral Scottish National.
10:03It means there is all to play for in the trainers' championship
10:05and the man currently leading the way is our special guest this morning, Dan Skelton.
10:10I have to say the Grand National did take the jam out of my doughnut, if I'm honest with you.
10:14But that's the standard that he sets.
10:15That's the bar we've got to come up to
10:17and we are not going to go down without a fight.
10:19My team, they fully believe this can and will happen.
10:22I'm sure.
10:24To win the Scottish National would be very helpful.
10:27Big prize money on offer.
10:29Been second in it before.
10:31But I want to win it.
10:33It's a huge day, but it's a free shot.
10:35I mean, to be in a position we're in is a bit of a joker card anyway.
10:39So it's not like it has to happen, but it'd be great for it to happen.
10:45There's huge money, huge prestige, and it's a meeting and a race that can turn the tide.
10:54We know what we're taking on.
10:55We took them on last year.
10:56We're still in with a chance and we'll still fight to the very end.
11:01Tough ask for them, yeah.
11:02If Olympic man jumps well enough, he has a good chance, yeah.
11:06What's your best of the five?
11:08Six, sorry.
11:10Tell me Spanish Harlem, come on, tell me.
11:12I love Spanish Harlem, yeah.
11:13I was hoping the ground would be a bit drier, but I can't have everything right.
11:16The best outcome is us being first and second.
11:19The worst outcome is Willie filling the first six, which after last week in the Grand National,
11:23you know, isn't impossible for him, so we'll just see how we get on.
11:28I'm happy with my horses.
11:30Hopefully they can just proud.
11:32Six horses for Willie Mullins.
11:33He's got a seriously strong hand.
11:36He's going all out to win it again.
11:40Blue Brazil.
11:41Are you doing one or two?
11:43Two to do me.
11:44Yes.
11:45What stable was she in last night?
11:46She was in the first on the left.
11:50The British Trailers Championship means a lot, especially when you're based in Ireland.
11:53You know, it's quite unique.
11:55Form-wise, we're probably a little ahead, but form doesn't give you the winning trophy.
12:00You know, it just depends whose horses fire on the day and how things go.
12:06Do you get nervous?
12:07No, not nervous, no. You're just, you know, I suppose it's just the ambition in one.
12:17You know, Dan has huge ambition. I have as well.
12:20And people, when you get to that end of any sport, you like to win.
12:26You like to give it your best shot.
12:27For Willie and the whole family, the whole yard, to win the UK Trainers Championship again would be unbelievable.
12:37That's going into the history books.
12:40To win it again, it just would show that maybe it wasn't a fluke the first time.
12:46Whew.
12:48Don't want to lose this.
12:50Good team of horses now going to air, so...
12:53We'll keep our fingers crossed.
12:55Keep our fingers, yeah.
12:57The thing that makes the conclusions to the Trainers Championship so fascinating
13:01is Willie's desire to hold on to the trophy.
13:04It's a nice cookie jar for the year, isn't it?
13:06He wants to basically keep the trophy, not just for the sweets, but just because that's been his ambition.
13:12We'll have to see how the gods line up.
13:15We thought we were lucky last year, so maybe we'll be lucky again this year.
13:19Fingers crossed.
13:22You know, this is unique. The opportunity is there.
13:24And if the ball bounces right, it could happen again.
13:28It's game on, we're coming after Dan.
13:30So much will be decided at 3.35 in the Coral Scottish National.
13:31Do you prefer the Scottish National or the English National?
13:33Scottish, mate, I won it twice.
13:34Have you ever won it?
13:35What?
13:36The Scottish National.
13:37What?
13:38The Scottish National.
13:39I've won it last year, mate.
13:40Last year.
13:41Oh, yeah, well done.
13:423.35 in the Coral Scottish National.
13:46For the Scottish National or the English National?
13:49Scottish, mate, I won it twice.
13:50Have you ever won it?
13:52What?
13:52The Scottish National.
13:53Where's last year?
13:53Last year.
13:54Oh, yeah, well done.
14:00As they run to the second last, McDermott and Danny Mullins.
14:03Last year winning on McDermott kept me an unbelievable buzz.
14:07As they head down towards the last in the Scottish National,
14:10and it is McDermott, who's moved through the lead for Willie Mullins.
14:14Go, Danny!
14:19When it was all in the balance at the last jump,
14:21Danny just rolled the dice and went all in.
14:25Coming up towards the line, McDermott and Surrey Crest in a photo.
14:30That is so, so close.
14:32Is this the photo that decides the trainers' championship?
14:35First, number 11, McDermott.
14:38Riding that winner for Willie when he really needed it,
14:43that was something extra special.
14:47I want to see my men.
14:49When Danny won in a photo finish last year, it was huge.
14:53That's one photograph I'll be taking home, I think.
14:55That secured the championship for him.
14:58It was the tightest of finishes.
14:59Preventing Dan from securing his first ever championship.
15:06Next comes the big one, though.
15:08Scotland's most famous race.
15:12Will lightning strike twice?
15:16Sail away.
15:18Sail away, you've won here before.
15:20Very good.
15:21Do it again.
15:21Yeah, our chance is in the Scottish national sail away.
15:27Harry's riding him.
15:27Harry, my brother.
15:29That day you won over three miles.
15:30You've got an extra mile today.
15:32And I think, given your age, you're ready for it.
15:35Don't let anyone tell you you're not.
15:38Brogy's first goal, five minutes.
15:40Whether he can see out the longer distance, we'll see.
15:44If we can pick up some valuable prize money,
15:46I think we'd be happy.
15:48But Willie will also be there with his team as well.
15:50We've got two runners in the race.
15:52We also run Snipe.
15:55Snipe's ridden by one of our younger jockeys, Harry Atkins.
15:59He ran all right last time as well.
16:01That could help.
16:02Right, young Harry.
16:03Good.
16:04This is your moment to shine.
16:05All right.
16:06To have a ride on a horse with a good chance in the race,
16:11it's unbelievable.
16:12It's a big race.
16:13Everyone's watching.
16:14If you're going to get there, get there late.
16:16Yeah.
16:17OK? You know what you're doing.
16:18I look young.
16:19I'm only 20, but I've been riding in races since I was 16.
16:22And to add the Scottish national to my CV, it'd be unbelievable.
16:26Just second line, and then find yourself a bit of space.
16:29You know what you're doing.
16:30Perfect.
16:31All right?
16:31Dan and Harry, you can see how much it means to them.
16:34You just want to do the best and get the prize money as much as you can.
16:39I bet you're going to line up.
16:40Just second road down the middle somewhere.
16:43Best of luck.
16:45Good luck, guys.
16:46Good luck, Uncle Harry.
16:48Thank you very much.
16:49All right, I'm going to find my owner.
16:52Willie has got a lot of runners, and he's got a lot of good horses with a lot of good chances.
16:56But you've just got to try and get them all beaten.
16:58You are the man that potentially holds the aces in this race is alongside me.
17:02Willie Mullins, you have six in it.
17:05You know, as you say, we have six shots, and they all have chances.
17:09Let's go down number four.
17:09Can we just show you this?
17:10You've highlighted the horses you've got.
17:13That's basically it.
17:14Throw as much at it as we can.
17:16Just could get very tight, and I think every shilling is going to count.
17:19Good luck.
17:20Thank you very much.
17:21Cheers.
17:22Willie can't miss from here home.
17:24He's running out of time, but there's big prize money there.
17:27Best of luck.
17:28Thanks.
17:30Unfortunately, I've picked up an injury.
17:32I'm going to miss air, but I won't miss a second of it on the TV.
17:36The fact that Paul Townend is out injured, this is like a Premier League manager losing his centre forward.
17:42It's like Mo Salah being out for Liverpool.
17:44It's a huge blow for Willie.
17:46So, another one of the six for Willie Mullins here.
17:48Captain Cody, we don't often see Harry Cobden riding for Willie.
17:52In fact, it's his second for the Maestro.
17:56Replacing Paul Townend is a thankless task, but Willie looks outside the box and he goes for Harry Cobden, England's champion jockey, and there's no better substitute.
18:08It's an honour to ride for Willie Mullins, isn't it?
18:11I'm more than happy to step up and give him a hand.
18:13If I haven't got a run in the race, Harry's free to ride whatever, and if you get offered a chance to ride one for Willie Mullins, you can ride it.
18:20I followed him in Cheltenham.
18:22Just over.
18:22Did you rate, yeah?
18:23And I thought he over-travelled for a little bit of the way.
18:25Yeah, well, if you're worried about that, just get him settled in somewhere.
18:29Yeah, ride him to half-run well and he might nick the lot.
18:32If you can, Dan probably won't talk to you for a while, but anyhow.
18:36Don't worry about that.
18:37You'll put up with that, yeah.
18:38Let's do it.
18:39I met Harry Cobden on traitors.
18:40I'd just, I'd say to the whole room, look, we don't even need to think about this.
18:43He's got to go.
18:45Danny, all right, have you your plan, plan A?
18:47Yeah.
18:47I'd imagine hand you away, a bit of lice.
18:49He was worried whether the ground had been too soft for him, were you?
18:52Willie Mullins has got together a pretty ace team of jockeys.
18:54We've got Danny Mullins, who we know does particularly well for his uncle.
18:59Johnny Burke, who rode for him, of course, in the Grand National.
19:02And he's got his son, Patrick, riding for him.
19:05We're keeping him jumping, isn't it?
19:06Ruby just says, don't move.
19:08Don't move.
19:09Just let him do the job.
19:10Yeah.
19:11That'll do me.
19:11Olympic man.
19:14I think this is the pick of the Mullins horses.
19:16We've got Patrick on board.
19:18Can he add a Scottish national to that hugely emotional English Grand National victory?
19:29I desperately want to win.
19:30I desperately want to beat him.
19:32The only thing is he can swamp it.
19:34We're going to need everything to go our way here.
19:39Danny, whoa, pull it up.
19:41On these big days, I'm ready for it, but I like to remain chilled.
19:50I think Harry Skelton brings a bit more energy to the likes of these days.
19:54Pull it up, pull it up, pull it up, pull it up.
19:57There's an awful lot of money on offer here, over 100k to the winner.
20:01This is important.
20:02This is a big one.
20:02We're heading literally down the final stretch now in the trainers' championship.
20:08Going into the Scottish Grand National, there's around 170,000 between them.
20:15This race matters.
20:16We're going to find a place to watch it.
20:21We'll go up to Ronnie's box.
20:24These big meetings, like air, you're under pressure.
20:27But with the trainers' championship, there is an extra pressure.
20:31No, that lift could take forever.
20:33What are we doing?
20:34The start for me in the Scottish Grand National is quite tense.
20:39When Willie's got that number of horses in the race, if Dan's going with two, it's like going to war.
20:44Six against two.
20:45Now, they move forward and hopefully will get away first time.
20:50Are we going this time?
20:51We are, yeah?
20:52The big days are the ones that really matter.
20:54It's hard to get a ride in those races, let alone win.
20:58There's nothing like it.
21:00Steady, steady, steady!
21:08No.
21:09Where's Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie's box?
21:12Are we on the wrong floor?
21:14The nerves are unreal because you think to yourself, you know, what happens if you win?
21:19Steady!
21:20We're in.
21:21Are we in here?
21:23We are.
21:23Yes, we're in.
21:24They must be off.
21:26No!
21:27No!
21:27No!
21:27No!
21:27No!
21:28No!
21:28He's let them go for the Scottish Grand National of 2025.
21:37We don't win.
21:38We are proper Donald Duck.
21:40Four miles ahead of them.
21:43They have 27 fencers to jump.
21:46We have six runners.
21:48They're all horses, I think, are capable of winning prize money.
21:51And it would be brilliant if one of them could win.
21:53There's a lot of pace on down to the first, sail away's one around the track before.
21:59So, all being well, we've got a chance.
22:01Oh!
22:07Fuck!
22:08Harry, gone.
22:10Fuck.
22:11You all right?
22:13Yeah.
22:14Got brought down.
22:16On the floor, at the first, chance gone.
22:20You all right, bud?
22:21Yeah.
22:22Surrey Quest and Kevin Brogan make a mistake.
22:25I just cannon straight into his back end.
22:27That's racing, I suppose.
22:29Oh, that's all over, isn't it?
22:32Got one more dart in there.
22:34Harry, I can tell a snake.
22:3650% of our chance of winning a Scottish Grand National is gone after one jump.
22:40I saw Harry Skelton fall at first.
22:49Better him than me, isn't it, you know?
22:53So, a blow for Dan Skelton.
22:54Harry's mount is out of the race, but Dan's still got one shot left.
22:59And Snipe's still in with a chance.
23:00It's all going okay so far for Snipe.
23:04No real dramas from him so far.
23:07He's got to have a chance, hasn't he?
23:09Spanish Harlem on the outside is in fifth, followed by Snipe.
23:12We're jumping very well.
23:14Pray for a winner, but you've got to keep your head straight and go over level head,
23:18especially a time where you need the prize money.
23:22On now towards the second of the open ditches, and down is Snipe.
23:27Oh, God.
23:28Snipe has come down. He may well have brought down Astings.
23:32That didn't look very good, that.
23:34Snipe, gone.
23:36Out.
23:39After his fall, the horse Snipe looks to be okay,
23:42but jockey Harry Atkins appears to have been badly hurt.
23:47I don't like this at all. I'm really worried for Harry.
23:50I'm not sure this young Harry's very good.
23:58Here at air in the Scottish Grand National,
24:08Dan Skelton's chances in this race are over.
24:10We'll just go down there.
24:12Both jockeys have been unseated.
24:14You almost know you're coming down.
24:20Hit the floor.
24:25Oh, God.
24:27I had a bit of a nasty bang to the head.
24:29I can't remember a lot, but I was knocked out.
24:41I had a few grazes.
24:44My cheek was a bit swollen,
24:46but I got up and walked off to the ambulance.
24:48Young Harry was definitely concussed,
24:52but luckily everything else was okay.
24:56Kind of does make your heart sink, really,
24:58because we've gone from having two chances to none.
25:04And up now towards what will be the final fence
25:07in two more circuits' time.
25:10Dan out of the race.
25:12Olympic man has got the lead, going very well,
25:15and he's got into a good rhythm.
25:16It's now all about how well Willie's horses do.
25:20So we've got six horses in the race, which is a lot.
25:23It obviously gives us a better chance.
25:25We want to win.
25:27And it is Olympic man who leads the Scottish national field.
25:31I see Patrick in front on Olympic man,
25:33so I'm worried as a father that Patrick will be able to stick on him.
25:36Then I'm trying to pick out my horses, the different colours,
25:38hope they don't fall,
25:39hope that they don't make a bad mistake
25:42and put them out of the race.
25:43It's a ferocious pace.
25:47But he's jumping very well.
25:50You probably think that lightning can't strike twice,
25:53but if you're not in, you can't win,
25:55so we'll roll the dice and might get two sixes.
25:57Another one towards the rear and quite wide is Captain Cody.
26:03I'm happy where I am.
26:05It's all very well flying out in front
26:07and having your moment on the first lap and a half.
26:10First lap and a half is important.
26:13It's Olympic man and Patrick Mullins who has the lead.
26:16They've gone well through halfway.
26:18The last half mile is the most important in that race
26:24and that is when most of them are going backwards.
26:30It's Olympic man who took that fence with him.
26:32He almost banked that, made a bad mistake.
26:36We're going out in the last lap
26:38and he just starts to lose his concentration.
26:40He starts to get a little bit tired.
26:41He makes a couple mistakes.
26:44Olympic man again, made a bad mistake.
26:46We lose momentum.
26:48I'm thinking, I'm beaten.
26:53So they're going now to the last two fencers in the back.
26:57Clark Kent on the inside.
27:00Clark Kent is with Johnny Burke.
27:03Jumping well, galloping well.
27:07Things have gone really well for me
27:08and I'm starting to think that this could be on.
27:12Captain Cody in the orange is getting closer.
27:14They go over the final fence taken in the backstreet.
27:18That leading group of eight are very tightly packed.
27:23Three more fences to take in the final half mile
27:26of the 2025 Coral Scottish Grand National
27:29and the field are led into the home straight
27:31by Clark Kent and Jonathan Burke.
27:35I can feel the pack.
27:36I can hear them,
27:37but I'm still controlling the race at this point.
27:39There's nothing going to flash by me.
27:44I'm still too far from home to get excited.
27:47Harry Goldner, outside.
27:49Race on Captain Cody.
27:51We turn into the straight.
27:54I'm going better than everyone else.
27:56Captain Cody smuggled into the race on the outside.
27:59The only horse that's going remotely okay
28:01is the one in front,
28:02and I knew that I had him covered everywhere.
28:04So, it was just a matter of when I'm going to go.
28:08They're racing now down
28:09towards the final fence of the Coral.
28:11Scottish Grand National,
28:13Captain Cody on the outside
28:14for Willie Mullins and Harry Cobden.
28:17Johnny's absolutely winged it in front of me.
28:20He's landed out of the back of the last three links
28:23in front of me,
28:24but I know the whole way up the run
28:25and I'm going to get him.
28:27They've got 100 yards to go.
28:29It will be a 1-2 for Willie Mullins,
28:31but which way will it go?
28:34It is Captain Cody
28:36who wins the Scottish National.
28:45It was just the most
28:47goat-wrenching feeling
28:49because I just felt up to that point
28:51I've won the Scottish National
28:52and when he came by me,
28:56my heart sunk.
28:59Unbelievable.
29:01I've never won a Scottish National before.
29:04I've never won any National.
29:05To tick one of those off my CV
29:07was pretty incredible.
29:11I'm glad to say thanks, Willie.
29:12You're a good lad.
29:13I like you,
29:14but you're not getting a kiss.
29:17To be first and second,
29:18way better than we ever thought.
29:20Thank you, thank you.
29:21Wow, wow, wow.
29:22We were in with a great shout
29:24and delighted.
29:26First and second,
29:27it was just extraordinary.
29:28Willie, what a feeling.
29:31This was massive for Willie.
29:34A 1-2 in the Scottish National.
29:37Thanks very much, Willie.
29:38You must have been put on your best team ever.
29:41He is right on Skelton's tail.
29:44There's just two weeks left of the season
29:46and Dan Skelton now only leads Willie Mullins
29:50by around £16,000.
29:53It wasn't ideal for us.
29:56Willie was first and second.
29:57A bit of deja vu.
29:58Yeah, the show goes on.
30:02Thank you very much.
30:03We're still slightly ahead,
30:04which is a very different position
30:05to what we were in last year.
30:06We were well behind
30:07after the Scottish Grand National last year.
30:10So, look, we'll just keep fighting.
30:12That's all we can do.
30:13Here, look at this.
30:28That's probably the first picture of us two
30:30with a racehorse.
30:32What year was that?
30:3317th, the 10th.
30:3593.
30:3593.
30:38There's been plenty of adversity in our lives.
30:40It may look like it's silver spoons and gold medals,
30:44but I can tell you
30:45it's been a long way from that in reality.
30:48That was it.
30:49Grandad's hat.
30:50Yeah, it was handsome, wasn't it?
30:52I'd obviously been sent to the barber with that hairstyle.
30:54Terrible haircut.
30:55Yeah.
30:55I think I'm much better now.
30:57Yeah, shut up.
30:59Mum had just probably chopped it off with some scissors.
31:03I think I was five and Harry was barely one.
31:07Mum and Dad got divorced
31:08and we went and lived with Mum.
31:10Hi, Mike.
31:12Hi.
31:13Oh, you're good.
31:14Great.
31:15Great.
31:16Our mother had a very long battle, I suppose, with alcohol.
31:24And, you know, I was only young
31:27and Dan, you know, could see a lot more what was going on
31:31and I was very lucky that, you know, I had him.
31:35Harry.
31:36It's fire.
31:38Harry, can you fire?
31:40It was hugely corrosive.
31:44You know, I recognised pretty quickly
31:47that I had to look after Harry.
31:49I had to notice things and spot things.
31:53It wasn't very easy.
31:54Easy.
31:55In the end, we got too much for Mum.
32:02We just couldn't all live together.
32:05And we ended up moving back with Dad.
32:08And that wasn't straightforward
32:09because Dad was away competing all the time
32:12and things weren't straightforward.
32:16Come on, Harry.
32:18I'm five years older than Harry,
32:20so, yeah, I did have to grow up quicker
32:22and I looked after Harry for a lot of his youth, really.
32:26You know, I've got him to thank for a lot
32:28and I think now that's probably what makes us so close
32:33to all we've known, really.
32:34Yeah, we're lucky we've got each other.
32:36I wouldn't want to ride for anyone else.
32:40There's nothing like riding a winner for your brother.
32:44I just love putting you on them.
32:45It just seems so easy.
32:47Maybe I'm spoiled.
32:48Well, I am spoiled, I know that.
32:49Our spirit was always to fight
32:52and that's probably ultimately
32:54what led us to being competitors.
32:56If it didn't go in well, you've got to keep scrapping.
32:59Oh!
33:00Ow!
33:02We won't give up.
33:04No chance.
33:04This is it.
33:21Who will win the trainers' championship?
33:23Will it be Willie Munnins like last year?
33:26Or will it be a first title for Dan Skel?
33:30What a lovely day to win.
33:33Never give up.
33:33What are you going to do, Harry?
33:38What's we going to fight?
33:40Don't worry about that.
33:41Morning.
33:42Morning.
33:42Script is not written yet.
33:45You going to win it, Dan?
33:45Oh, yes.
33:47Good luck, Dad.
33:48Come on.
33:50We've got this far.
33:51We've got to just keep focused,
33:54try and get this job done.
33:54The past few weeks can only be described as a positive campaign from both sides.
34:01Willie Munnins and Dan Skelton's team have been going the length and breadth of the country,
34:06picking up bits and bobs of prize money here and there.
34:10Looking at the leaderboard, Willie Munnins now leads the trainers' championship,
34:13but he's only £2,709 ahead of Dan Skelton.
34:17So going into the one grade one on the card,
34:20the Bet365 Celebration Chase is quite clearly going down to the wire.
34:27The Bet365 Celebration Chase, the grade one of the afternoon,
34:31£175,000 up for grabs.
34:33A grade one like this, with so much pressure on,
34:39you need to have done all your homework.
34:43I'm definitely proud to be a Mullins.
34:45It probably brings that added pressure,
34:47but for a sportsman, pressure is what you want.
34:59Come on.
34:59Hi, Toby.
35:01Rocky.
35:03She's a trainer, but she probably produces, like,
35:08more young horses,
35:10and she'll pre-train some horses as well.
35:14Both of my parents were champion jockey Tony Mullins
35:19and champion lady rider Margaret Mullins,
35:23so I'm probably an underachiever for my pedigree.
35:28I haven't fulfilled my potential yet,
35:31but hopefully I can start to fill into the boots.
35:36It's a great family to be a part of.
35:38She's back to say hello.
35:40She's on her tour of the yard.
35:41Hi, Danny.
35:42Morning.
35:43Hang on, you?
35:44Patrick, when the national has really brought the championship alive.
35:47Dan Scalton, he's had a great year, hasn't he?
35:51I think Willie has to make it count on the big days,
35:55so it's pressure on.
35:59Growing up in a hugely successful racing family,
36:03you take it for granted.
36:04By the time you start to compete and have a go,
36:07you soon realise this is not easy.
36:11Your surname isn't going to carry you to get results,
36:14so you have to put in the hard graft.
36:17You have to make it happen yourself.
36:19If a Willie Mullins horse can win this race,
36:28it would be the seal of the deal in the championship.
36:33And bolstering Willie's chances further still,
36:36his number one jockey, Paul Townend,
36:37is back from injury and ready to go.
36:40It all comes down to this,
36:42so we need to hit bullseye.
36:45It's all or nothing today, yeah.
36:46OK, gents, you ready, please?
36:49Willie Mullins, strong hand.
36:52I think riding for my brother gives me more drive to succeed.
36:57Skelton's don't give up.
36:59Both Dan and Willie are desperate to win this,
37:02but they've got to get past Nicky Henderson's superstar,
37:05Jean Bond, who is unbeaten around the track.
37:07New rider for Jean Bond today.
37:09Is he in good form?
37:10Everything seems great. He's been terrific.
37:12Jean Bond's the best two-miler in England.
37:18It's a proper, proper race.
37:21We'd love to win it again.
37:23Jean Bond is a hot favourite.
37:26He's the king of Sandown.
37:29Here he comes, Jean Bond, five out of five at Sandown,
37:32two celebration chases, looking for a third today.
37:34Basing off against Jean Bond, Dan Skelton has two horses,
37:39but Harper's Brook is 125 to one long shot.
37:43The better of his horses is Unexpected Party,
37:46ridden by his brother Harry.
37:48Going into the race,
37:50you're hoping that Unexpected Party can outrun himself,
37:55and maybe something might go wrong with the favourite, yeah?
37:59Hoping for prize money.
38:00Here's Inargumain, head up by Imran Haddad.
38:03In Urgumain, he's won two champion chases.
38:06He's getting a bit older.
38:08We've met Jean Bond in Ascot earlier in the year.
38:13He's kicked our butt.
38:15It's going to be hard to beat Jean Bond.
38:18Ilete Tom making his return after a year off the track.
38:22Ilete Tom coming into this race,
38:25he's definitely going to be one of the outsiders.
38:27For Willi to be placed and get some valuable money here
38:33is the biggest expectation.
38:37Hopefully push it towards winning the championship.
38:42Ilete Tom making it up.
38:44We know how difficult this race is going to be.
38:47The party might end here for the Skelton.
38:50The start could be important here.
38:51Oh, that was an anxious moment there.
38:55Inargumain is a bit excited under Paul Townend.
38:59It's a false start.
39:00This is knife-edge stuff.
39:02The worst thing you can do is panic.
39:06You have to breathe.
39:07Keep it all together.
39:09Not what I wanted on Ilete Tom.
39:12I'm trying to keep him relaxed.
39:14Start a bit more square on, lad.
39:16The starts are so important for any race.
39:19Don't go into that rail.
39:21We're all way out here.
39:22Everyone's getting a little bit worked up.
39:25The occasion gets to everyone a little bit.
39:26And they're off and racing,
39:31and John Bond has jumped away perfectly okay.
39:35I get a good start.
39:37John Bond's in front where he likes to be.
39:39John Bond out in the lead.
39:43We're in a good rhythm jumping.
39:46But we're just hanging on to John Bond's core tails.
39:49We're needing him to make a mistake
39:51rather than us going to take the race off him.
39:56Yeah, we settle down, pass in the stands.
39:59We're in a good rhythm.
40:00Ilete Tom is behind us.
40:03So far, so good.
40:05So it's John Bond climbing the hill.
40:11Willie has told me to try and get as much prize money as I can.
40:16Don't be getting too involved in the early part of the race.
40:20And the last two, Ilete Tom, and last of all, Harpersbrook.
40:25So towards the third, run downhill.
40:27John Bond with the advantage of three lengths.
40:29You still have developed a part of what John Bond went with?
40:32Oh, I think so, yeah.
40:35As we head down the back straight,
40:37the pace is very strong,
40:39and unexpected party is just struggling.
40:44I have to just sit and suffer, really.
40:46I need to say something for the finish.
40:52Ilete Tom moves through it to fifth.
40:56Ilete Tom is jumping better than he's ever jumped before.
41:04He's getting into this race.
41:06I knew I had a lot of horse underneath me.
41:10In fourth place, Ilete Tom, unexpected party is losing ground.
41:13It's time to put Willie's plans on the shelf and have a go at winning.
41:19John Bond out in front by four lengths.
41:23In Ergavine in second.
41:24I'm starting to struggle.
41:25Still have half a flicker of hope,
41:27but I need John Bond to falter for me to win.
41:31Ilete Tom is improving into fourth place
41:34and jumps well there, Ilete Tom.
41:36Ilete Tom is travelling so well.
41:39It's time to put Willie's plans on the shelf
41:41and have a go at winning.
41:44Jumped upon the fence and I can see Gray coming.
41:47Ilete Tom moving into second place
41:50on the outside of Inergami.
41:54Ilete Tom's gone up the straight like bullet out of a gun, really.
41:58He ain't for stopping.
41:59John Bond with Ilete Tom on the outside.
42:01A good lead.
42:02Another very good jump.
42:03This one lands him in front.
42:08John Bond's got a fight on his hooves
42:10and Ilete Tom has Breeze to the lead.
42:13I see John Bond is flat to the boards.
42:16He's got a fence and a big hill to climb.
42:21Ilete Tom at the last.
42:23Another really good lead.
42:26Shows another fantastic lead at the last.
42:29This could happen.
42:32Ilete Tom away from John Bond in second place.
42:35When you see the winning post,
42:38everything slows down at that point.
42:40It becomes a bit surreal.
42:47And Ilete Tom McRae is going to run out
42:50to the winner of the celebration chase.
42:52Yes, John Bond!
42:54Yes, John Bond!
42:55The final nail is putting the coffin of Dan Skelton
42:58and spark the celebrations for Willie Mavich.
43:01I've delivered the dream for the minority
43:05and crushed the hearts of the majority.
43:08Thank you, thank you, thank you.
43:09What are you doing, Willie Mavich?
43:10To ride that big winner for Willie.
43:13The team had been doing so well,
43:15but I wanted to get my name on the score sheet somewhere.
43:20For him to come out and win in the manner he did,
43:24we all had our jaws on the floor.
43:25I knew we were done when Ilete Tom won.
43:37Yeah, it's that over.
43:38Yeah, yeah, yeah.
43:39Right.
43:39Yeah, we know it's over now.
43:41That's it.
43:43It's tough to take.
43:48Willie looked at me, smiled,
43:51and said,
43:51you never do what you're told.
43:52I just smiled back at him
43:56and told him,
43:57when there's a chance of winning races,
44:00I'm always going to have a go.
44:04It's game, set, and match, Willie Mullins.
44:08See you next year.
44:10Same time, please.
44:12I'm getting you for this.
44:14I've had enough of a surrender.
44:17After an incredible season,
44:19Willie wins by nearly 200,000 pounds.
44:22Beating poor Dan Skelton,
44:24who had led all season.
44:27Yeah, I think my total would have been enough
44:29to have won all but three or four championships.
44:32But there we go.
44:33That's how it is.
44:39In my lifetime,
44:40Willie Mullins is without doubt
44:42the greatest of all time.
44:43Looking back over the season,
44:48Hattic winning the Grand National was huge.
44:50That was one of the best wins
44:52I've ever had in my career.
44:55Paul Townend has been fantastic.
45:00Danny winning the Celebration Chase.
45:03Everyone plays their part.
45:04It's a team effort.
45:05I think it's very special.
45:08It's lovely.
45:12All right.
45:13No worries.
45:14Cheers, guys.
45:14Have a good day.
45:15Cheers.
45:16I'm thankful that for the last three weeks,
45:18it was us that was in the fight.
45:20I'm very proud of that.
45:22Give the fight the best we could.
45:24I think we've come a long way.
45:27But we're still not there yet.
45:30Next year, we are going to mop up.
45:33It's mop and bucket time, baby.
45:35We are going to sweep the floor.
45:37We are going to mop up.
46:07We are going to mop up.
46:07Bye-bye.
46:08Bye-bye.
46:09.
46:09.
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