Scottish Grand National tips and runner-by-runner guide to Ayr 3.35 on Saturday

Can Willie Mullins, Dan Skelton or Paul Nicholls land a big pot?

Scottish Grand National

By / Horse Racing Tips / 7 months ago

Macdermott spearheads the Willie Mullins battalion in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

The recent Fairyhouse winner is one of six runners for the Closutton maestro, who is attempting to win the British Jump Trainers’ Championship for the first time in his illustrious career.

Paul Nicholls is also looking to land the trainers’ title – for a record-equalling 15th time – and saddles top weight Stay Away Fay, who was pulled in last month’s Brown Advisory, and Broken Halo.

Dan Skelton was top of the trainers’ championship before I Am Maximus’ Aintree Grand National success pulled Mullins to the summit and he is solely represented by Ballygrifincottage.

A stack of horses successful in marathon trips in recent months also take their chance in Saturday’s 15:35 including Eider hero Anglers Crag, Midlands Grand National king Beauport, Edinburgh National scorer Inis Oirr and runaway Devon National winner Mr Vango.

The latest Scottish Grand National odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.

Scottish Grand National verdict

Timeform: Jamie Snowden can land another big handicap chase courtesy of GIT MAKER. This 8-y-o bumped into a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and the fact he pulled 18 lengths clear of the reopposing Whacker Clan in third suggests he could be well treated here off only 1 lb higher. Willie Mullins is going all out for the British title after last weekend’s Grand National success and his unexposed pair Macdermott and Spanish Harlem are very interesting contenders now stepping up markedly in trip.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Scottish Grand National runners and riders

The following horses have been declared for the Scottish Grand National 2024.

Stay Away Fay

Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 7 Weight: 12st 0lbs

Won Albert Bartlett last year and better still over fences this term, winning over at Exeter and Sandown (Grade 2) before Christmas. Disappointed with cheekpieces (quickly discarded) added to regular tongue tie at Cheltenham but he can bounce back faced with a stamina test which should suit.

****

Mr Incredible

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins Age: 8 Weight: 11st 9lbs

Has looked quirky but no doubting his ability, placing in another good handicap when splitting Beauport and My Silver Lining in the Midlands National on Uttoxeter reappearance. In rear (lost several lengths at start) when unseating halfway in Grand National last weekend.

***

Elvis Mail

Trainer: N. W. Alexander Jockey: Bruce Lynn Age: 10 Weight: 11st 3lbs

Useful handicapper who notched a second chase win of the season when leading close home in a 3m Carlisle veterans’ event 13 days ago. Looks vulnerable off 4 lb higher in this much more competitive race.

**

Beauport

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Jordan Nailor Age: 8 Weight: 11st 1lbs

Bit of a mixed record over fences but he’s smart on his day and put it altogether when overcoming some sticky jumping to land the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4¼m, heavy) last month. Raised 5 lb for that but he’s unexposed over marathon trips.

***

Ontheropes

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: B. Hayes Age: 10 Weight: 10st 11lbs

Smart earlier in his career but hasn’t shown much obvious promise in 3 outings since returning from a long absence.

**

Gold Cup Bailly

Trainer: Stuart Crawford Jockey: J. J. Slevin Age: 8 Weight: 10st 10lbs

Useful chaser who won his first 3 starts (including twice here) last season but found life tougher later in the campaign and this is a big ask after a year off.

**

Spanish Harlem

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 6 Weight: 10st 10lbs

Progressing gradually over fences, finishing third in maiden events around 2½m on all 3 starts. Fascinating contender now stepping up markedly in trip for handicap chase debut.

****

Iron Bridge

Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr. Age: 8 Weight: 10st 9lbs

Bumper/dual hurdle winner who quickly developed into a smart chaser. Best of the rest behind Nassalam in Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas before excellent third in Grand National Trial at Haydock in February. A subsequent no show in the Midlands National since needs forgiving, though.

**

Whistleinthedark

Trainer: L J Morgan Jockey: Danny McMenamin Age: 9 Weight: 10st 8lbs

Won first 4 chases last season but has found ife tougher this time round, finishing well behind Git Maker and Whacker Clan in Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month.

**

Ballygrifincottage

Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 9 Weight: 10st 8lbs

Low-mileage chaser who warmed up for this by finishing second in a 3m Sandown handicap last month. His stamina has to be taken on trust but his trainer has few peers when it comes to teeing one up for big handicaps.

***

Macdermott

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 6 Weight: 10st 7lbs

Promising 6-y-o who looked a different proposition stepped up to around 3m for the first time when readily making all at Fairyhouse 19 days ago. Faces a much greater stamina test now but there’s surely more to come from this lightly-raced sort from an all-conquering yard.

****

Tommie Beau

Trainer: Seamus Mullins Jockey: Micheal Nolan Age: 9 Weight: 10st 6lbs

Better than ever when winning back to back at Sedgefield (Durham National) and Fontwell (Southern National) in the autumn. Another fine effort when 6¾ lengths third of 12 to Anglers Crag in Eider at Newcastle (33f, soft) last time. A credit to connections.

***

Broken Halo

Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jocbkey: Bryony Frost Age: 9 Weight: 10st 5lbs

Failed to complete on first 3 outings this season but back on track lately, second in Royal Artillery at Sandown before taking a 3½m handicap at Taunton. This is a lot more competitive, though.

**

Mr Vango

Trainer: Sara Bradstock Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 8 Weight: 10st 5lbs

Maiden hurdle winner last season and this former point scorer has quickly made up into a much better chaser, producing a useful performance when routing his rivals in Devon National at Exeter. Backed that up when third in National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham Festival. Cheekpieces worn then retained.

***

Autonomous Cloud

Trainer: Fergal O’Brien Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 8 Weight: 10st 4lbs

Largely progressive chaser who bounced back from his no show in the Welsh National when 7¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Beauport in the Midlands version at Uttoxeter (4¼m, heavy) last month. Respected.

****

Anglers Crag

Trainer: Brian Ellison Jockey: Henry Brooke Age: 9 Weight: 10st 4lbs

Big improver for new stable after wind surgery, making it 4-4 when overcoming mistakes to edged ahead close home in the Eider at Newcastle (33f, soft) in February. Unlikely to get away with similar errors here but further progress certainly can’t be discounted.

****

Inis Oirr

Trainer: Lucinda Russell Jockey: Derek Fox Age: 7 Weight: 10st 3lbs

Much improved for a first-time visor and an increased stamina test when bolting up in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh (4m, good to soft) in February. Presumably saved for this since by a Scottish yard which won this in 2021.

***

My Silver Lining

Trainer: Emma Lavelle Jockey: James Best Age: 8 Weight: 10st 3lbs

Progressive mare who relished the increased test of stamina when bagging her fourth chase win in Classic Chase at Warwick (29f, soft) in January. Excellent placed efforts in the Grand National Trial at Haydock and Midlands National at Uttoxeter (2¼ lengths third to Beauport) since. Should go well.

****

Git Maker

Trainer: Jamie Snowden Jockey: Gavin Sheehan Age: 8 Weight: 10st 3lbs

Good strike-rate under Rules, winning 6 of 11 starts. Better than ever when 8 lengths second to Inothewayurthinkin in Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3¼m, soft), pulling 18 lengths clear of Whacker Clan in third. The winner boosted that form when landing a Grade 1 novice at Aintree last week. On good mark.

*****

Surrey Quest

Trainer: Toby Lawes Jockey: K. Brogan Age: 7 Weight: 10st 3lbs

Dual hurdles winner for Nicky Henderson and improved when bagging chase victories Huntingdon and Newbury either side of Christmas. His run of good form came to a halt when only tenth in the Great Yorkshire at Doncaster (3m, good) in January but the sort to bounce back. Will stay long distances.

***

Klarc Kent

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs

Went close to a first chase success on 21.5f Fairyhouse handicap debut at the end of March. The much longer trip asks a different question but he’s another unexposed one in this for his top stable.

***

Whacker Clan

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs

Progressive chaser who won a pair of handicaps in the first half of the season and gave his all from the front when third of 22 in Kim Mur at Cheltenham, although the reopposing Git Maker was 18 lengths ahead in second. Likeable type for his leading Irish stable.

***

Egbert

Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Brendan Powell Age: 7 Weight: 10st 2lbs

Maiden hurdle winner last term and won a pair of novice handicaps this winter, latterly over 3m at Doncaster. Advanced his form again when runner-up at Kempton (3m, good to soft) in first-time blinkers (retained) last month. Up significantly in trip for a yard with winning form in this race.

***

Punitive

Trainer: Peter Bowen Jockey: William Maggs Age: 10 Weight: 10st 2lbs

Lost his way for Gordon Elliott. Took a step back in the right direction when third of 7 over 3½m at Ffos Las but it’s still hard to make a good case for him here from 5 lb out of handicap. First-time tongue tie goes on.

**

Secret Reprieve

Trainer: Evan Williams Jockey: James Turner Age: 10 Weight: 10st 2lbs

Won the Welsh Grand National in 2020/21 and ran well to be placed in good company twice last season. Probably needed his reappearance run at Sandown in March after 12 months on the sidelines. 5 lb out of handicap.

***

We’llhavewan

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Kieran Callaghan Age: 9 Weight: 10st 2lbs

Winner of 3 handicap hurdles this season. Good second back chasing at Punchestown in February but could only manage a well-held sixth in the Irish Grand National over Easter. 5 lb out of handicap.

***

Saturday’s Racing Tips

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