Scottish Grand National at Ayr

Ayr stages its top jumps card of the season today, with the Scottish Grand National over 4 miles at 16.50 CET the main feature. With 30 runners this is just as tricky as last week´s Aintree affair. Only one horse from Aintree runs again - top- weight Tidal Bay (Paul Nicholls/ Sam Twiston-Davies) and although he is not as well handicapped this time we have to keep the faith. Godsmejudge (Alan King/ Aidan Coleman) won this last year and has to come on the short list again, so do Green Flag (Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan) and Roberto Goldback (Nicky Henderson/ David Bass), who both ran eye-catching races at Cheltenham. Tidal Bay´s presence means that half the runners are out of the handicap, which in theory at least makes it easier; however this may not be the case and we have the same scenario in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at 15.40. This is, despite the Name, also a handicap nd Champion Hurdle My tent or Yours (Henderson/ Tony McCoy) has to concede 16 lbs or more all round, wkith again the bottom runners all out of thre handicap. My Tent or Yours is certainly a class act and has never yet been out of the first two, so he is difficult to oppose, but this is no easy task and Flaxen Flare (Gordon Elliott/ Davy Condon) and Montbazon (King/ Robert Thornton) are big dangers at these weights. Alan King, who is himself Scottish, could well have a highly successful afternoon, as apart from those mentioned above, Valdez (Thornton) must have a favourite´s chance at 15.05 and also Manyriverstocross at 16.15, although here we prefer His Excellency (David Pipe/ Tom SVufamore), who was second here last year.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Silsol - Call Box - Titus Bolt
2. Race: Eduard - Miley Shah - Aibrean
3. Race: Montbazon - Court Minstrel - Clever Cookie
4. Race: Manyriverstocross - Valco De Touzaine - Le Bacardy
5. Race: Green Flag - Mendip Express - Sam Winner
6. Race: Brother Du Berlais - Vendor - Fine Rightly
7. Race: Bit Of A Jig - Tony Star - Kentford Legend
8. Race: Miles To Memphis - Saint Charles - The Unsub