The respective favourites have won this year’s Boyle Sports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and the Randox Grand National at Aintree, and that trend could well continue at Ayr tomorrow in the Coral Scottish Grand National (3.35 p.m.)
The forecast favourite tomorrow is the Irish-trained raider Kim Roque, who comes here off the back of a big run at the Cheltenham Festival last month, with fourth in the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup. However, odds of no bigger than 5-1 are skinny enough in this 21-runner contest for a first prize of more than £112,000.
Last weekend’s marathon contest at Aintree proved that few chasers truly stay four miles or more. There were plenty of horses in with a chance two fences out who clearly did not last home. In contrast, two of the four horses placed in the Grand National a year ago, I Am Maximus and Iroko, stayed on strongly to the line once again to be first and second on Saturday.
Last weekend’s marathon contest at Aintree proved that few chasers truly stay four miles or more
One horse that is proved over tomorrow’s trip of four miles is trainer Jamie Snowden’s ten-year-old-gelding GIT MAKER. Not only was he third is this race two years ago but he filled the same position in last month’s JenningsBet Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter over a distance of four miles two furlongs.
Git Maker’s last win came as long ago as November 2023 but he has run plenty of big races since then, including when second in the 2024 running of the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. There has to be a worry that Git Maker is not quite the force of old but his rating of 129 allows for that. Back him 1 point each way at 20-1 with 365, paying five places.
I will go into the race double-handed, however, with PROMONTORY, who has to be the most interesting horse in the contest. He is a nine-year-old gelding from the three-horse yard of Irish trainer Sarah Connell, who only took out a licence two years ago.
After various setbacks, Promontory did not make his racecourse debut until February last year when he was eight years old. Since then he has gone from strength to strength, winning the Dublin National Handicap Chase at Leopardstown last month over a distance of more than three and a half miles.
Back Promontory 1 point each way at 20-1 with BetVictor, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying five places. There are plenty of dangers including the J.P. McManus-owned Montregard, who won nicely at Ascot last time out and who, at just seven years old, is open to more improvement.
In the opening race on tomorrow’s card, the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (1.10 p.m.), I like the chances of TRAPRAIN LAW for the Lucinda Russell/Michael Scudamore training team. This duo love to have winners at this meeting given their Scottish base in Perth and Kinross.
Traprain Law is a course and distance winner who appreciates cut in the ground and who has run consistently well this season before having a break from the racecourse for more than two months. However, this eight-year-old gelding goes well fresh and so back him 1 point each way at 6-1, a price available with most, but not all, bookmakers paying three places.
At Ayr today, in the opening race, the Slater Menswear Handicap Hurdle (1.45 p.m.), MAGNA VICTOR has a good chance of landing a hat-trick of handicap wins. At first glance, a rise in the official rating of 8 lbs – for his last win at Musselburgh – to a new mark of 117 looks harsh. Yet, he could hardly have won more cosily so, despite his handler Alastair Ralph going through a quiet spell, I am going to put Magna Victor up 1 point each way at 5-1 with bet365, paying 4 places.
I am well aware that I am in a poor run of tipping at present but I am going to stay with the jumps for now. I am, however, hearing very good things about Touleen who, I guarantee, is better than she showed last time out when only fifth in the Boyle Sports Home of Early Payout Rockfel Stakes in September.
The Owen Burrows-trained three-year-old filly should win the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (better known as the Fred Darling Stakes) at Newbury today (1.25 p.m.) and, if that happens, she has every chance of going on to land the Group 1 Betfred 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket on 3 May for her talented handler.
Pending:
1 point each way Magna Victor at 5-1 in the Slater Menswear Handicap Hurdle, paying 4 places.
1 point each way Traprain Law at 6-1 in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Git Maker at 20-1 in the Scottish Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Promontory at 20-1 in the Scottish Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
Last weekend: – 14 points.
1 point each way Trustintimes at 16-1 for theWilliam Hill Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Prairie Wolf at 33-1 for the Topham, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Non runner. – 2 points.
1 point each way Coming Up Easy at 14-1 for the Topham, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Mighty Bandit at 9-2 for the Maghull Novices’ Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Get On George at 20-1 for the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Grangeclare West at 10-1 NRNB for the Aintree Grand National. UR. – 2 points.
1 point each way Monty’s Star at 16-1 for the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Now Is The Hour at 33-1 NRNB for the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Non runner. Stake returned.
2025-26 jumps season: running total – 51.185 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for six full seasons of tipping: + 126 points
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