Scottish Grand National at Ayr

The biggest N.H. meeting of the year in Scotland takrs place today at Ayr, where the main features are the Scottish Grand National, a very valuable 4 miles handicap at 16.40 CET and the Scottish Champion Hurdle, which despite its name is also a handicap, over 2 miles at 16.00. In both cases there are huge fields and the presence of smart performers at the top of the weights has resulted in the vast majority of runners being out of the handicap. In theory this should it make it easier to find the winners, but that is not necessarily the case. In the Grand National, the weights are headed by the smart Halcon Genelardais (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) and the ultra-tough Mike de Beauchene (Sue Alner/ Robert Walford) who defeated the former narowly in the Welsh Grand National and is now 5 lbs worse off. The only other runner racing off his proper weight is Paul Nicholls´ Opera Mundi (Ruby Walsh), but all three of these would probably prefer softer ground than is likely today. Old Benny (Alan King/ Richard Johnson) and Noir et Vert (Ferdy Murphy/ Colin Gillies) look the best of those racing out of the handicap, but course specialist Wild Cane Ridge (Len Lungo/ Wilson Renwick) must also be respected at his favourite track. In the Champion Hurdle, it is David Pipe´s Lough Derg (Tom Scudamore) who has top weight, but he is racing for the huge bonus of winning the Order of Merit (he has to finish in the first 4 to take the bonus) and realistically this looks unlikely, as he is a real stayer and this trip looks much too short. Pearl King (Philip Hobbs/ Tony McCoy) has been raised 16 lbs for an easy win at Aintree a fortnight ago, while Penzance (King/ Thornton) must also be given a chance, in view of his stable´s excellent record in the top hurdle races. Of those out of the handicap Paul Nicholls´ Takeroc (Ruby Walsh), who has been running well over fences, looks very dangerous off his lenient hurdles rating, while Kalahari King (Ferdy Murphy/ Brian Hughes) ran a great race at Cheltenham and is a threat to all. Best bet on the card is Noland (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), beaten favourite when third in the Arkle at Cheltenham and facing much weaker opposition in the grandly-named Future Champions Novice Chase at 15.50