Big race is moved as mark of respect
The Scottish Grand National will be run on a Sunday for the first time ever this weekend.
Bosses have moved the big race at Ayr back by 24 hours as a mark of respect for the funeral of Prince Phillip.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s service takes place on Saturday at 3pm and would have clashed with Ayr’s big day. The two-day festival, sponsored by bookmaking giant Coral, will kick off as scheduled on Friday.
David Brown, managing director of Ayr Racecourse, said: “I believe the correct and proper decision has been made which allows those involved with the Coral Scottish Grand National the opportunity to pay their respects to HRH Prince Philip with the racing going ahead the following afternoon.”
One of the best scenes the ITV cameras captured at Aintree last week was Lucinda Russell and Peter Scudamore celebrating Ahoy Senor’s win in the Grade 1 Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at odds of 66-1.
Scotland’s most famous racing couple could be giving it high fives again this weekend after the Coral Scottish Grand National, being staged on a Sunday for the very first time, as the horse I believe will lift the honours is the Lucinda trained Mighty Thunder.
The eight year-old has won three of his five chase starts and was a creditable second in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last month over four miles two furlongs.
At Ayr on Sunday he drops back to four miles, the ground is likely to be around good, good to soft which will suit and with his stable in fine fettle with three winners from their last seven runners he has a lot going for him.
Lucinda has long wanted to win the Coral Scottish Grand National to add to her Grand National win in 2017 with
One For Arthur and this could be her best chance to do so.
It’s likely Blair Campbell will ride and the 14-1 being offered by the sponsors looks great value.
Aye Right, trained in the Borders by Harriet Graham, is the new favourite for the race after the defection of Irish raiders Galvin and Escaria Ten .
His odds are 8-1 with Dingo Dollar trained near Kelso by Sandy Thomson at 10s and Vintage Clouds also on 10s and Sam’s Adventure a 12-1 chance.
Of these I like Sam’s Adventure who last time out won the Eider Chase at Newcastle on soft going.
The fact he has never won on ground better than soft is the only downside and he’ll be there or thereabouts.
The 2019 winner Takingrisks is likely to line up after being pulled up in Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
The Nicky Richards trained 12 yearold was caught back in the field in a large group of horses and just hated the experience.
He could still run well on Sunday over a track he loves and is another who should be in the mix.
One of the big outsiders who should run well is Chef D’Oeuvre trained by
Sam England and the mount of her husband Jonathan.
He won at Haydock recently and gets in here off a light weight.
So my Coral Scottish Grand National 1-2-3-4 is:
1. Mighty Thunder 2. Sam’s Adventure 3.Takingrisks 4. Chef d’Oeuvre.
And I’m pleased to say you can still view the action on ITV 1 or STV on Sunday.
The programme starts at 12.55pm and five races are being shown live from the course where Luke Harvey will be the presenter.
Also a wee reminder of our Coral Scottish Grand National preview night which we are holding via Zoom and Facebook tomorrow (Thursday) from 7.30pm – 8.30pm.
I am hosting the evening and will be joined by a three man panel consisting of Dan Skelton, the leading trainer who is currently second in the British trainers’ championship, ITV presenter and former jockey Luke Harvey and Coral PR Director Simon Clare.
To view this special evening register at https://www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk/ coral-scottish-grand-national-2021/ zoom-preview-night/
We look forward to seeing you all there for a few winners.