Grand National 2022: Brahma Bull Profile

Willie Mullins will saddle 11-year-old Brahma Bull in the 2022 Randox Grand National at Aintree on April, and we take a look at the Closutton inmate's chances here...
Brahma Bull
Age: 11
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Chase Runs: 17
Chase Wins: 4
Notable Race Wins: 2021 Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase
Four wins from his first four starts under Rules over hurdles earned Brahma Bull a place in the 2018 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but he was no match for Samcro in that Grade 1 event, as he finished in the mid-division. Sent over fences the following season he made an equally impressive start to that division as he won two of his first starts.
Unable to live with subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo in a novice chase, it would be handicap chases that would see him really sparkle and at the 2021 Punchestown Festival he produced a career best display to win the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase in fine style. Relishing the hustle and bustle of a staying chase, Brahma Bull showed tremendous class and guts to claim his biggest career win, and he will hope to emulate that at Aintree.
An excellent third at huge odds in the 2021 Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury, Brahma Bull has struggled to kick on from that effort as he was pulled up in the Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park, while he struggled to land any sort of blow in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, as he unseated during that event.
A return to the normal chasing game should be a positive, but he has his work cut off a mark of 157, and it's going to be tough to down some in-form, more attractively weighted rivals in a competitive contest.