DOUBLE HANDFUL

PEOPLE often ask me to explain the difference between Ayr’s Scottish Grand National and the Grand National. The former is slightly shorter in terms of distance (about 400 yards) and open to horses aged five or older, whereas the Aintree version is open to horses aged seven and older.

Another key difference is that one course is in Scotland, the other in England.

One thing they both have in common is that it’s a devilishly tough race to win — for owner, trainer, jockey or punter.

Only the legendary Red Rum has won both the English and Scottish Nationals in the same year (1974).

The more astute punters (who probably don’t read this column) will have noticed there have been a plethora of multiple winners of this race, especially of late.

Timmy Murphy won twice on Merigo in 2010 and 2012, while Sam Twiston-davies

won back-to-back Scottish Nationals on Vincente in 2016 and 2017.

Vintage Clouds hasn’t landed this race before but he did show good form when coming home third last year behind 33-1 shot Joe Farrell.

I’m not a fan of backing horses who fell at the first last time out, which is precisely what happened to Vintage Clouds in last week’s big race at Aintree.

Fences at Liverpool offer a sterner test than those at Ayr, and besides at least we know Sue Smith’s nineyear-old will be fresh and ready. Significantly, nine of the last 11 winners have been aged nine or younger.

Alan King’s Dingo Dollar has been all the rage in the ante-post market after finishing second in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster last month.

Twice the price of Dingo Dollar is the horse who actually won that race.

Although he has been hiked 7lb in the weights, he still looks a decent each-way wager at a big price.

CHIDSWELL,