Transmission in frame for Scottish National

Joint-favourite for the National Hunt Chase as a novice last term, the nine-year-old opened his account for the 2025-26 campaign when bolting up at Musselburgh on his latest start, with his handler feeling Ayr’s marathon test on April 18 could prove tailor-made.

Mulholland said: “He’s in good form and we’ve got a couple of options but obviously the Scottish National would be one of the main options.

“The trip and the track should suit and hopefully he will get his ground up there. I’ve spoken to Paul McKeon his owner and he was quite keen to make an entry.”

In the more immediate, Transmission holds an entry for the BetGoodwin Sussex National Handicap Chase at Plumpton on Easter Monday and while that race is worth considerably less than its Scottish counterpart, the gelding’s unbeaten record at the track means it will also come under consideration.

Mulholland added: “We’ll see about the Sussex National and he has the entry for Plumpton where he is two from two.

“I wouldn’t think he would do both but he has the entry so we’ll have to look at both races and see which one Paul would like to take his chance in – both are definitely suitable, just one is worth a lot more than the other.

“Other than those another race for him could be the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, but we’ll take a good look at the Scottish National.”

Transmission was amongst 49 entries for the £200,000 contest and is one of three 12-1 co-favourites with the sponsors Coral alongside Paul Nicholls’ Ultima third Quebecois and Joseph O’Brien’s Kim Muir fourth Kim Roque.

The winner of that race, Cathy Williams’ Ask Brewster is also engaged, as is runner-up Road To Home, who is Willie Mullins’ sole entry in search of a third-straight win in the four-mile contest.

As well as Quebecois, Nicholls has also entered recent Midlands’ National hero Isaac Des Obeaux and stalwart Threeunderthrufive, while hopes of a home success lie with Lucinda Russell’s National Hunt Chase second King Of Answers