Steve Ryder provides a runner-by-runner guide for each of the 23 horses declared for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
15:35 Saturday
Scotland's biggest raceday is headlined by the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, just seven days on from its English counterpart at Aintree.
23 runners were declared for the race on Thursday morning, including six for Trainers' title chasing Willie Mullins including the favourite.
Steve Ryder has analysed every runner and advised one betting selection.
Scottish Grand National Runners Guide
1) Mr Incredible (J: Alice Stevens T: Sandy Thomson)
Was barred from running the Aintree Grand National by the BHA so he looks set to run in this race off top weight instead.
Refused to race on his stable debut at Wetherby in December before pulling up at Kelso in March in a five-runner race. Had previously finished 2nd in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in March 2024.
2) Henry’s Friend (J: Ben Jones / T: Ben Pauling)
Won the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot last season before finishing 5th in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November this season.
He was an impressive six-length winner at Newbury over 3m2f on his penultimate start on good to soft ground off a mark of 138 before finishing 8th in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival despite being inconvenienced by the standing start.
3) Our Power (J: Dylan Johnston / T: Sam Thomas)
Was off for 377 days before finishing runner-up on his first two starts this season. He was 3rd beaten 26 lengths by stablemate Katate Dori at Kempton last time in the Ladbrokes Trophy. That was over 3 miles but he did finish 11th in the 2023 Grand National at Aintree so he should stay this 4 mile trip.
4) Olympic Man (J: P W Mullins / T: W P Mullins)
The mount of Grand National winning jockey Patrick Mullins for his father Willie Mullins. Has jumped poorly on his three chase starts to date but this unexposed novice could prove well handicapped off a mark of 142. He won over 2m4f at Naas last time but had previously shaped like a stayer although this faster ground is a question mark.
5) Macdermott (J: Danny Mullins / T: W P Mullins)
Won this race last season under Danny Mullins off a mark of 137 and he runs in it off a 5lb higher mark this year. Form figures of P0UP are hardly inspiring and he also has questions marks around the faster ground this year.
6) Famous Bridge (J: Sean Quinlan / T: Nicky Richards)
Was a NR in this race in 2023 on good ground and was also a NR at Doncaster in January on good ground so connections are clearly worried about fast ground.
Beat Apple Away in the oddschecker Grand National Trial at Haydock in February off a mark of 138 before finishing a respectable 6th in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 142. He runs off 1lb lower in this race.
7) Captain Cody (J: Harry Cobden / T: W P Mullins)
Willie Mullins has booked Harry Cobden for the ride aboard this novice chaser who only has three completed starts over fences to date.
Was still travelling well in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when unseating his rider at the 13th fence but clearly will need to jump better to be successful in this race.
8) Surrey Quest (J: Kevin Brogan / T: Toby Lawes)
Finished 2nd in this race last season by a nose off a mark of 133 and he runs in it off a 6lb higher mark this year. Finished a good 2nd on his reappearance at Cheltenham over 3m3½f on good ground on his reappearance before unseating on his next start.
Warmed up for his with a good 3rd in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February and this will have been his long-term target.
9) Chosen Witness (J: Sean O'Keeffe / T: W P Mullins)
Won the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle on this card last season and he arrives here off a 7lb higher mark on his first handicap start over fences.
Hasn’t shown his best over fences so far in his career and given how keen he was when unseating his rider last time over 3 miles, he must have stamina doubts at this trip.
10) Spanish Harlem (J: Brian Hayes / T: W P Mullins)
Finished 6th in this race last season when the choice of Paul Townend off a mark of 140 and he runs in it off a 4lb lower mark this year. Was beaten 17 ½ lengths when 4th last time but is now fitted with first-time cheekpieces in this race.
11) Hasthing (J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr / T: Jonjo & A J O'Neill)
The sole representative for owner JP McManus who will need to jump better than when unseating in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time.
He has won at Windsor twice this season over 2m4f and 2m6f but shapes like this stamina test could suit. Another who is fitted with first-time cheekpieces in this race.
12) Rock My Way (J: Brendan Powell / T: Joe Tizzard)
finished 2nd in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on only his second start for the Joe Tizzard stable. That effort was in first time blinkers which are retained in this race and he shapes like this step up in trip will suit him well.
13) Sail Away (J: Harry Skelton / T: Dan Skelton)
Won his only start at Ayr by 11 lengths in 2023 off a mark of 136 and he runs in this race off a mark of 132 this year. Finished 2nd by a neck over 3 miles at Warwick when last seen but now gets the assistance of Harry Skelton.
14) Wiseguy (J: Nico de Boinville / T: Nicky Henderson)
Won at Newbury on his reappearance over 2m6½f off a mark of 125 and has run with credit on his previous two starts including when 7th in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time. He has been dropped 1lb for that run down to a mark of 129.
15) Flash De Touzaine (J: Sean Flanagan / T: Liz Doyle)
Experienced chaser who has a strike rate of only 2-18 over fences but comes into this race off the back of a 6 ½ length victory at Limerick last time over 2m7f. Interesting to see if he can step forward from that effort off a 7lb higher mark.
16) Walking On Air (J: Richie McLernon / T: Faye Bramley)
Has changed stables from Gary Brown to Faye Bramley since finishing 11th in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival this year.
He is now 0-6 over fences but was in contention when falling at the last at Doncaster on his penultimate start and could still prove well handicapped off a mark of 128.
17) The Kniphand (J: Sam Twiston-Davies / T: Nigel Twiston-Davies)
Nigel Twiston-Davies trained seven-year-old who has been running consistently well this season. Has form figures of 12132 this season with both of his victories coming on good and good to soft ground.
18) Grozni (J: Callum Pritchard / T: James Owen)
Finished 6th in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when fitted with first time blinkers. He had previously won by a neck at Wetherby in December in a first-time visor off a mark of 125 and he runs here off only a 2lb higher mark. Represents the in-form James Owen yard.
19) Dom Of Mary (J: Caoilin Quinn / T: David Bridgwater)
Finished 8th in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when outrunning his odds of 50/1. Had previously finished a neck 2nd at Plumpton on his penultimate start over 3m4½f but looks up against it.
20) Snipe (J: Harry Atkins / T: Dan Skelton)
Finished 3rd in first-time cheekpieces at Warwick on his previous start over 3 miles but Harry Skelton, who has ridden him on his previous five starts, instead rides Sail Away.
21) Klarc Kent (J: Jonathan Burke / T: W P Mullins)
Finished 4th in this race last season off a mark of 132 who now runs in the race off an 8lb lower mark. Form figures of 0P908 would raise question marks around his current wellbeing but he has to be respected for Willie Mullins.
22) Magna Sam (J: David Noonan / T: Alastair Ralph)
11-year-old who runs in this race from 2lbs out of the handicap. Was an impressive 9 ½ length winner over 3m7½f last time in first-time cheekpieces at Musselburgh and he could outrun his odds if the headgear works for a second time.
23) Brandt (J: Sean Bowen / T: Cian Collins)
Won at Leopardstown last time by 2 ¾ lengths over 3m4½f lengths but that was off a mark of 110. Now runs off a mark of 124 but he does get the assistance of Champion jockey elect Sean Bowen.
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Scottish Grand National Tips
Last year’s winning trainer Willie Mullins dominates the market in this race but I am willing to take a chance on HENRY’S FRIEND (best priced at 14/1) who caught the eye at the Cheltenham Festival last time.
The eight-year-old has won half of his eight starts over fences in his career including the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot last season.
He was an impressive six-length winner of the Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury in December over 3m2f on good to soft ground before being badly inconvenienced by the standing start in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time.
Henry’s Friend made eye-catching headway on the turn in before weakening up the hill having used up energy to get into the race. He jumps well, has no fears around the ground and shapes as if he will relish this step up in trip to 4 miles. He can hopefully cap off a brilliant season for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.
