Top tips for the Scottish National
On- form Warren can lift Coral crown
The stage is set for a pulsating renewal of the £ 215,000 Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday with 40 horses remaining at the confirmation stage.
Today ( Thursday) we’ll find out the declarations but it’s safe to say that it will be wide open with Yala Enki from the Venetia Williams yard set to carry top weight of 11st 12lbs.
The seven- year- old has gone up in the weights following wins in a couple of Class 2 chases this season, including the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock.
But both these successes came on going that will be a lot softer than he will encounter if taking his chance on Saturday.
Seldom Inn, beaten seven lengths by Yala Enki at Kelso late last month, is Scotland’s only representative and while I think Sandy Thomson’s runner will be well prepared, I don’t think he has the profile for this race.
I am plumping for Missed Approach, a horse that was second to Tiger Roll in the JT McNamara National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham last time.
Warren Greatrex’s string are in brilliant form – he saddled four winners in a row over the weekend and has long has this race in mind for Missed Approach. The going shouldn’t be a worry as he has won on good to soft and his biggest danger may just be the horse that was back in fourth at Prestbury Park – Paul Nicholls’s Arpege D’Alene.
Don’t be put off by the fact that Sam Twiston- Davies rides last year’s winner Vicente instead of the other Nicholls horse.
The fact is that young Sean Bowen, a brilliant young rider in his own right, normally rides Arpege D’Alene and I think he is my selection’s biggest threat. There’s no reason why Vicente shouldn’t run another big race and I also think Sue Smith’s Vintage Clouds has strong each way claims.
So my idea of the first four is: 1. Missed Approach, 2. Arpege D’Alene, 3. Vintage Clouds, 4. Vicente.
The main supporting race, the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle, saw 20 stand their ground at the confirmation stage and the top two in the weights on 11st 10lbs are the Simon Munir – Isaac Souede owned L’Ami Serge, trained by Nicky Henderson and Alan King’s Sceau Royal. Another Munir- Souede horse Peace And Co also holds an entry while I know Paul Nicholls thinks highly of Diego du Charmil.
This looks like being one of the best Scottish Champion Hurdles for many years and I’m plumping for Diego du Charmil to give Nicholls a decent prize in his fight to retain the trainers’ championship.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Nigel Twiston- Davies runs Calett Mad in the opening novices chase while Aintree winner Double Ws holds an entry in the Listed Scotty Brand Handicap Chase as does San Benedeto, also successful at the Liverpool track.
I will have a decent investment in the Festival finale, the Skyform Group StaNdard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
My money will be on Golden Jeffrey who was recently bought out of the Mark Johnston yard by Largs- based Mrs Jo Tracey.
Jo has sent the horse, a bumper winner at Ayr in February on heavy ground, to Iain Jardine and, given Scobie’s form at the moment, I can see him run a huge race with the quicker underfoot conditions certain to suit.
Good luck to you all at what promises to be a fantastic two days and if you haven’t been able to secure a ticket for the Saturday, then watch the action on ITV 1.