Scottish Grand National at Ayr

Ayr stages its best jumps meeting of the year today, with the Scottish Grand National at 16.25 CET as the main feature. Top-weight Junior (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) is the only runner who also took part at Aintree, fallitng at the second; that probably took little out of him, but we do not fancy him today. Paul eNicholls of course trained last week´s winner and has a chance of completing the double with Harry the Viking (Ruby Walsh), one runner guaranteed to stay the 4 miles trip, as he was runner-up over the distance Cheltenham. Portrait King (Maurice Phelan/ Denis O`Regan) is another who gets the trip, having won the Eider Chase, whileee Knockara Beau (George Charlton/ Jan Faltejsek), 6th in the Gold Cup, and Fruity O´Rooney (Gary and Jamie Moore) also ran well at the Festival. With 24 runners anything can happen, but our suggestion is course specialist Merigo (Andrew Parker/ Timmy Murphy), who won the race in 2010 and was runner-up last year.
The Scottish Champion Hurdle at 15.50, despite its name, is only a handicap but is another very open race, with 2 runners each from the Nicky Henderson and Donald McCain stables, as well as Edgardo Sol (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), who won over fences last week at Aintree, and the in-form Raya Star (Alan King/ Robert Thornton). However we like German-bred Local Hero (Steve Gollings/ Richard Johnson), and two more German-breds that could run well are Quicuyo and Bocciani, who are both engaged in the 2 mile handicap chase at 17.35.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Grandioso - Enfant De Lune - Outrageous Request
2. Race: Pacha Du Polder - Lidar - Pure Faith
3. Race: Edgardo Sol - Tetlami - Charm School
4. Race: Harry The Viking - Merigo - Portrait King
5. Race: Arctic Court - Cloudy Too - American Trilogy
6. Race: Doeslessthanme - Anquetta - Kings Grey
7. Race: No Loose Change - Red Harbour - Loose Preformer
8. Race: River Maigue - Picture Post - Green Flag