Big day for racing north of border as Ayr hosts the Scottish Grand National

Aintree disappointment can turn to joy for trainer

Owner Trevor Hemmings expressed his dismay last week as VINTAGE

CLOUDS missed out at Aintree, but compensation awaits in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Such was his handicap mark he only made it to fourth reserve for the big race on Merseyside, but what was a negative for Aintree is a definite plus in terms of Ayr, and he really impressed in his prep event for this.

Running at the Cheltenham Festival, he finished just over six lengths behind Coo Star Sivola in a typically hot handicap.

A couple of jumping errors cost him valuable momentum that day and he really just ran out of ground to make up the deficit – something that should not be an issue over this four-mile trip.

Vintage Clouds could finish only seventh in this race last year, but the fact he lines up off a 7lb higher mark this time adequately illustrates that he is an improved horse and he appears to have been laid out for a contest such as this.

FIGHTING IRISH can surprise hotpot Expert Eye by winning the Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes at Newbury. SELECTIONS

AYR: 1.45 Double W’s, 2.20 Braqueur D’Or, 2.55 Chesterfield, 3.30 Adrien Du Pont, 4.05 VINTAGE CLOUDS (NAP), 4.40 Soul Emotion, 5.15 Big Robin, 5.50 New Moon.

NEWBURY: 1.25 Humbolt Current, 2.00 Defoe, 2.35 Gavota, 3.10 Fighting Irish, 3.45 Gilgamesh, 4.20 Infrastructure, 4.55 Shareef Star, 5.30 Adamant.

DOUBLE: Vintage Clouds and Fighting Irish.