Scottish Grand National at Ayr

there is also plenty of jumping today, with Ayr staging its best jumping card of the year, featuring the Scottish Grand National over 4 miles at 16,45 with 30 runners. Many of these have already met several times, including Al Co (Peter and Sean Bowen), who won it last year. He ran last week at Aintree, but was hampered st the first fence and unseated his rider, hardly the ideal preparation. Trustan Times (Tim Easterby/ James Reveley) fibnished a Close third last yrear and seems well handicapped this time. The Irish challenge is strong with Goonyella (Jim Dreaper/ Jonathan Burke) winning the Midlands Grand National from Raz de Maree (Sandra Hughes/ Bryan Cooper) and Gallant Oscar (Tony Martin/ Paul Carberry) placed in some top handicaps, but they do not seem to be well handicapped this time. Nor is Sam Winner (Paul Nicholls/ Sam Twiston-Davies), third in the Lexus, but burdened here with top weight. Obviously almost anything could win this, but if Trustan Times can run the same race that he did a year ago, them he must for us have a very solid each-way chance.

The supporting races includes several more valuable handicaps,including the Scottish Champion Hurdle at 15.35 which looks almost as difficult. Nicholls has two fancied runners here, Calipto (Sam T-D) and top-weight, German-bred irving (Nick Scholfield). Despite the stable jockey´s choosing the other one, we hope that Irving can score here; he was a bit unlucky last time, and the trainer wisely did not run him at Cheltenham. He is the best horse in the field and we hope he proves it today. Another German-bred here is Seventh Sky (Charlie Mann/ Gavin Sheehan) in the Future Champions Chase at 15.00; he has had a great season with 5 wins, bit this race looks tough and he must surely be feeling the effects of his strenuous campaign by now.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Runswick Royal - The Last Samuri - Puffin Billy
2. Race: Top Gamble - Solar Impulse - Seventh Sky
3. Race: Sign Of A Victory - Irving - Calipto
4. Race: Strongpoint - Duke Of Navan - Dunraven Storm
5. Race: Gallant Oscar - Broadway Buffalo - Catching On
6. Race: Upsilon Bleu - Rock The Kasbah - Rascal
7. Race: Grape Tree Flame - Avidity - Palm Grey
8. Race: William Henry - Sir Will - Lettheriverrundry