Ayr racecourse hosts the Premier Raceday meeting on Saturday. The feature is the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (16h35).
Twenty-six runners compete for the £112,500 first prize, going 4-miles on soft ground.
Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase takes place at Ayr Racecourse (Pic – Ayr Racecourse)
With big prizes on offer throughout the eight races, English and Irish trainers are raiding, fielding the majority of the runners.
Notably, the three trainers contesting the UK trainer’s championship – Willie Mullins, Dan Skelton and defending champ, Paul Nicholls.
Mullins is mob-handed, saddling six in the Scottish National with Macdermott, the mount of Danny Mullins; and Spanish Harlem, the choice of Paul Townend, the two to consider in terms of riding arrangements.
The two six-year-olds step up in trip to this ultra distance for the first time but are fit and well weighted here.
Harry Skelton rides Ballygrifincottage for his brother, and this nine-year-old is not without a chance having been Group 1 placed at Cheltenham. His last start at Sandown was very encouraging, and he must be considered.
Top weight, the classy Stay Away Fay represents the Paul Nicholls yard. A Group 1 winner whose only poor start was last time out at Cheltenham when pulled up. That was in a Group 1, and he lost a shoe in-running, so that is best ignored. He should be included in exotics.
However, they all might find it hard to give weight and a beating to Git Maker.
The Jamie Snowden trained eight-year-old was a clear second to the smart Inothewayurthinkin at Cheltenham last month and he gets the services of Gavin Sheehan on Saturday.
Earlier at 15h25, L’Eau du Sud could provide Dan Skelton with a handy £56,270 towards the title with victory in the Gr2 Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle, while Mullins looks set to end the day in style with Quai De Bourbon in the Novices’ Hurdle at 17h45 and C’Est Ta Chance in finale at 18h20.
