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CAPTAIN CODY – GRAND NATIONAL RUNNERS 2026: SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL WINNER
Captain Cody presents as a moderate Grand National runners prospect with one significant credential: he won the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April 2025, a marathon handicap chase that serves as direct preparation for the Grand National. The good-topped 8-year-old gelding trained by W.P. Mullins has demonstrated smart chasing form and is trained by a handler with an exceptional record in the race.
However, his recent form has been deeply concerning and there are legitimate questions about whether his Scottish Grand National victory translates to genuine Grand National capability.
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Captain Cody: The Timeform Profile
Captain Cody is a good-topped gelding with useful form over hurdles and smart chasing form. At 8 years old, he is among the younger Grand National runners prospects but old enough to have accumulated meaningful experience. He has proven form over 4 miles and acts on a variety of surfaces —both essential Grand National credentials. He usually races off pace, which is a legitimate tactical approach for Aintree if executed correctly.
However, Timeform's most recent assessment carries critical qualifications regarding his current form and competitive sharpness.
The Scottish Grand National Victory: The Primary Credential
Captain Cody's standout achievement came in April 2025 at Ayr in the Scottish Grand National over 31.8 furlongs on good/soft ground. He won by 1 length from a field of 23 runners, demonstrating genuine marathon capability.
Timeform's assessment of that victory is revealing: "got the better of the in-house battle with his band of stablemates, which as in the Grand National the previous weekend and in many big races before it converted into landing a notable prize...he arrived with only 3 completed chase starts to his name, but that lack of experience was outweighed as it turned out by his scope for improvement and he proved too well treated for a largely exposed field to become the twelfth novice to win this since 1990 (3 others also came via defeat in National Hunt Chase) and the fourth in the last 7 years, making light of a blunder at the fifth as he continued to travel strongly held up around the outer and still not asked for his effort as he closed into second approaching the last, briefly finding himself a few lengths down again as he steadied into it only to quicken in remarkable fashion at the end of almost 4m to lead close home, his masterful rider not even resorting to the whip."
This comment reveals multiple important factors:
- Novice Status: Captain Cody had only three completed chase starts when he won the Scottish Grand National. This is extraordinarily limited experience for a marathon handicap.
- Well-Treated: He was "too well treated for a largely exposed field." This suggests the handicap mark was lenient, not that he was a commanding winner.
- Blunder at the Fifth: He "made light of a blunder at the fifth," indicating jumping imprecision.
- Not Extended: The comment that he was "still not asked for his effort" as he crossed the line suggests the Scottish Grand National was won comfortably but without the jockey asking maximum effort. This is positive but also raises questions about whether he would handle a truly testing Aintree race.
- Quickened Remarkably: His finishing kick at the end of almost 4 miles was impressive and suggests genuine stamina.
The victory is genuine, but the context is important: he won a marathon handicap against a largely exposed field while being well-treated by the handicapper, with only three chase starts under his belt.
Recent Form: The Alarming Deterioration
Since his Scottish Grand National victory nearly a year ago, Captain Cody's form has been deeply concerning:
February 2026 at Fairyhouse (Grade 3 Chase), 26 furlongs on heavy
Fifth of 9, 33 lengths behind Grangeclare West. Timeform noted: "failed to bridge the gap from handicaps into an open Grade 2 at the first attempt but is clearly better than this all the same; waited with, hit thirteenth, took closer order before 4 out, weakening when clouted last." The phrase "weakening when clouted last" is significant. He weakened when hitting the last fence, suggesting a lack of reserves when asked to extend. At Aintree, this would be problematic—he needs to finish powerfully over the final fences.
More troubling, he "failed to bridge the gap from handicaps into an open Grade 2." This raises questions for a Grand National runners prospect.
January 2026 at Gowran (Handicap Chase), 25 furlongs on heavy
Unseated at the fifth when anchored in last place. A fall is a serious incident. The fact that he was "anchored in last" when it happened suggests tactical positioning or competitive inadequacy led to the fall.
December 2025 at Leopardstown (Handicap Chase), 24.5 furlongs on good
Seventh of 28, 9.5 lengths behind the winner. Timeform noted: "remains in form, not ideally placed in relation to the principals but seeing his race out well enough to underline a return to a marathon trip will suit; raced wide, mid-division, headway when not fluent 3 out, ridden home turn, plugged on." "When not fluent 3 out"—another reference to jumping imprecision. "Plugged on" suggests he kept trying but lacked competitive edge. This is mid-field form in a handicap, not Grand National runners form.
November 2025 at Fairyhouse (Grade 1 Novice Chase), 20.3 furlongs on soft
Third of 6, 9.5 lengths behind the winner. Timeform noted: "shaped well over an inadequate trip dropped back into novice company for his reappearance, all roads presumably leading to Aintree in the spring, the path taken by stable-companion I Am Maximus en route to Grand National glory in 2023/24, whilst the fact Harry Cobden flew over to maintain the partnership from Ayr suggests he's already been pencilled in for the ride next April; patiently ridden, headway when short of room between last 2 (jockey picked up 2-day careless riding ban), plugged on without being subjected to maximum pressure and finished with running left."
This run came after 232 days off. He ran in a Grade 1 novice over an "inadequate trip" (20.3 furlongs, well short of his established range). The comment that Harry Cobden "flew over to maintain the partnership" and was "already been pencilled in for the ride next April" suggests connections are committed to the Grand National plan.
The Aintree Factor: Recent Fairyhouse Is Aintree-Related
The February 2026 Fairyhouse Grade 3 Chase (26 furlongs on heavy) was run at Aintree's course configuration and distances. His fifth-place finish, 33 lengths behind Grangeclare West, is directly relevant to Grand National runners assessment. Grangeclare West—a top-class Grand National runners prospect—won that race by a comfortable margin. The performance differential between the two horses heading to Aintree is stark and revealing.
Jumping Concerns: Recurring Issue
Throughout Captain Cody's recent record, jumping imprecision appears repeatedly:
- Scottish Grand National (April 2025): "Blunder at the fifth"
- Cheltenham (March 2025): Unseated at the thirteenth
- Fairyhouse (February 2026): "Hit thirteenth"
- Leopardstown (December 2025): "When not fluent 3 out"
Multiple novice hurdle runs: "Not fluent," "jumped right," "mistake sixth" Jumping imprecision that manifests as blunders, hitting fences, and unseatings is problematic for any chaser, but particularly for a Grand National runners prospect. At Aintree over 30 demanding fences, Captain Cody's jumping record is a concern.
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Racing Style: Off-Pace Approach
Captain Cody usually races off pace, which is a legitimate tactical approach. However, racing off pace requires either:
- A devastating finishing kick to close ground late
- A buit of luck when navigating the big Grand National field
- Tactical positioning that allows him to improve when needed
His recent form—"plugged on," "weakening when clouted last," "failed to bridge the gap"—suggests he possesses neither. He is trailing horses late in races and cannot close ground effectively.
Age and Experience
At 8 years old, Captain Cody is among the younger Grand National runners prospects. However, his chasing experience is relatively limited. He arrived at the Scottish Grand National with only three completed chase starts. While he has accumulated more experience since then, his record remains relatively modest compared to other Grand National runners prospects.
Willie Mullins Connection: A Plus, But Context Matters
Willie Mullins is a trainer with an exceptional Grand National record. His stable-companion I Am Maximus won the Grand National in 2024 and Nick Rockett won the Grand National for him in 2025. While he may have been aimed at the Grand National since his Ayr victory, he is one of many Mullins horses pointed that way.
Trainer quality quality cannot compensate for a horse lacking form or distance capability. Mullins trains many horses; only a minority win the Grand National.
Assessment: Captain Cody as a Grand National Runners
Prospect Captain Cody presents as a moderate Grand National runners prospect with one significant credential (Scottish Grand National win) but deeply concerning recent form. His positives include:
- Scottish Grand National winner (marathon handicap)
- Has proven form over 4 miles (sufficient for Grand National distance)
- Acts on a variety of going
- Suitable age (8)
- Trained by W.P. Mullins (proven Grand National record)
- Progressive form trajectory from bumpers through novice hurdles to chasing
However, the negatives are substantial and concerning:
Recent form is in clear decline (fifth in February Grade 3, unseated in January, seventh in December)
"Failed to bridge the gap from handicaps into open Grade 2"
"Weakening when clouted last" in most recent Aintree-course run
Only three chase starts when winning Scottish Grand National (limited experience for marathon racing)
Won Scottish Grand National when "too well treated" against a "largely exposed field" (not a commanding victory)
Unseated at Gowran when "anchored in last"
Jumping imprecision (blunders, hits, unseatings recurring theme)
Lacks finishing kick ("plugged on," "failed to close ground")
Verdict
Captain Cody will face a challenging task as a Grand National runners prospect. His April 2025 Scottish Grand National victory is his primary credential and remains relevant. However, his subsequent record suggests he may not be ready for the ultimate test.
For punters assessing Grand National runners, Captain Cody represents a "one-race form line" prospect. The Scottish Grand National is impressive, but the 10 months of form since that victory has been unconvincing. Unless he demonstrates a sharp improvement in his next outing—particularly in jumping consistency and finishing strength—his Grand National candidacy would need to show significant form reversal to be considered realistic.
Captain Cody has the fundamentals (distance, trainer quality), but his current form does not align with those fundamentals. He would need to rediscover the form that won the Scottish Grand National and prove he can bounce back from dissapointing prep runs before being considered a serious Grand National runners prospect.
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