DOUBLE HANDFUL

ONLY one horse has won the Grand National and the Scottish Grand National in the same year. That was the legend Red Rum in 1974. Incredibly, the two races were only three weeks apart, and both courses were a much sterner test of jumping and stamina than they are today.

How many punters can lay claim to backing the winner of the Grand National and Scottish National in the same year? That’s a pretty tasty double by anyone’s standards, even mine, which are admirably low.

Vicente has won the Scottish National for the past two years, and while that doesn’t compare to Rummie (three times a Grand National winner and twice a runner-up in five years), it’s still one hell of an achievement.

I really like Paul Nicholls’ charge and it’s difficult to find holes in his form.

It’s not just being a two-time winner over course and distance, it’s the way his team have prepared him for the race. Something is working — will it work again? He’ll love the drier ground, his last two runs were on heavy (just like everyone else’s last two runs) but he doesn’t really act on testing ground. He’ll be in the mix for sure but carrying an extra 4lb might just get the measure of him. Nigel Twiston-Davies has a decent strike-rate at Ayr, one which could well be improved if BALLYOPTIC produces the sort of run I expect from him this afternoon. The eight-year-old has an impressive array of scalps as a hurdler, beating the likes of Yala Enki, Potters Legend, Balko Des Flos and Bellshill. As a novice chaser Ballyoptic also has some decent form in the bank, beating Vintage Clouds at Wetherby in addition to his fourth behind Presenting Percy in the RSA at Cheltenham. He’s a good jumper and the only concern is whether he’ll stay the distance. This will be around six furlongs longer than he’s ever run. I think he will.