Horse In Profile: Chosen Witness

Willie Mullins’ dominant performance at Aintree has given him the momentum necessary to try to overhaul Dan Skelton and claim a second consecutive British Trainers’ Championship.

As such, he’s set to send a strong squad up to Ayr for their Scottish Grand National meeting this weekend.

One of those potential runners in Chosen Witness, who has been very popular in the betting recently, and is now the 9/2 favourite for the big race, having been as big as 16/1 earlier in the week.

Scottish Grand National Free Bet Ofer

Chosen Witness @ 9/2 to win the Scottish Grand National with bet365

Odds courtesy of bet365 and correct at the time of publishing.

Chosen Witness is no stranger to Ayr

This son of Well Chosen contributed to Mullins' historic success in the British Trainers’ Championship last season, winning a novice handicap hurdle at this meeting. Course form is an important tick next to his name and it will certainly help.

Patiently ridden that day, Paul Townend made stealthy progress throughout before going second coming up to the penultimate flight of hurdles. It was then a scrap up the run-in between the Mullins runner and the Dan Skelton-trained Major Fortune.

The latter fought back to briefly reclaim the lead but Chosen Witness got his head in front at the right time to score by a nose. He was giving the runner-up plenty of weight that day and it was a brave performance.

The point-to-point graduate immediately showed promise

Chosen Witness began his career in a maiden point-to-point at Ballinaboola in February 2022. He dead-heated for first that day and the third home has since boosted the form by winning next time out and has also been successful in hunter chases under rules.

Mullins’ gelding made his first start under rules in a Limerick bumper the following December and he made a very good impression. Scoring by 10 lengths, he made all the running and was pulling further clear at the line.

A slow start to life over fences

Things haven’t gone smoothly in three starts over fences this season for Chosen Witness, which is a little surprising given his success on the point-to-point scene.

His display on his seasonal debut at Navan in December can probably be put down to needing the run badly and he was 50 lengths behind the winner, looking very tired late on.

Stablemate Champ Kiely got the better of him at Fairyhouse next time and perhaps the extended 2m5f trip was a little on the sharp side for him. There were signs of improvement though, and he managed to finish third.

It’s hard to know what would have happened if he had completed the course when he went back up to three miles in a Grade 2 at Navan last time out. He was still in the race when unseating jockey Paul Townend at the fourth-last and it was too early to tell if he was in with a chance of winning.

Marathon trip could be the making of him

Chosen Witness's dam, Whatareyousaying, was placed in Irish points over three miles and managed to win a bumper over 2m4f, which is a good omen for the Mullins hope this weekend.

The return to handicaps could be a massive help and a mark of 137 is by no means too onerous.

From the family of Gold Cup winner Captain Christy, Chosen Witness remains potentially unexposed over fences and it’s entirely possible that the eight-year-old will thrive over longer distances.