Enjoy a Royale appointment

Class should show through in the Scottish National

SOUTHFIELD ROYALE has the class and staying power to cut loose in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Things have not gone to plan for Neil Mulholland’s inmate this season, but there is enough evidence to suggest that all might soon be well with the world.

His novice season was a deep success, with a Grade Two triumph at Doncaster backed up by a terrific second-place finish in the Feltham at Kempton.

That rival then finished ahead of him in the four-miler at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, but Southfield Royale seemed to get the trip nicely and might have finished a bit closer than fourth had he not made a mistake three out.

He was admittedly disappointing upon his return to action at Doncaster in January, but anything might have happened in the Kim Muir back at Cheltenham last month.

He had, after all, travelled nicely until fate intervened and he fell at the ninth fence.

A big day on the Flat at Newbury, where the JLT Greenham Stakes takes top billing.

This season’s renewal of the Group Three looks fairly tough to call, but it could pay to side with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained ZAINHOM.

The Street Cry colt looked a lovely horse when he won his maiden at York last season and hardly dented his reputation when an unlucky-inrunning second in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

It will be great to see stablemate Midterm in the John Porter Stakes, but he might have to play second fiddle to

DAL HARRAILD.

The manner in which he rattled off Listed honours at Newmarket in September was really striking, and he has the scope to kick on at this level.

SELECTIONS:

AYR: 1.40 Calett Mad, 2.10 Clan Des Obeaux, 2.45 L’Ami Serge, 3.20 Double W’s, 3.55 SOUTHFIELD ROYALE (NAP), 4.30 Kalondra, 5.05 Red Infantry, 5.40 Donna’s Delight.

NEWBURY: 1.55 Dal Harraild, 2.30 Dabyah, 3.05 Zainhom, 3.40 Donncha, 4.15 Call To Mind, 4.45 Dhalam, 5.20 Face The Facts, 5.55 Signe.

DOUBLE: Southfield Royale and Zainhom.