ODDS & SODS

Lee Phelps, spokesperson for William Hill, says...

THIS year’s Scottish National meeting at Ayr has the added interest of the three-way showdown in the trainers’ championship, with Dan Skelton, Paul Nicholls and that man Willie Mullins all in the running.

We have Mullins (below) as a clear favourite at 1-5, ahead of Skelton at 9-2, with 14-time champion Nicholls the outsider of the trio at 12-1.

The Scottish Grand National is one of the big betting races of the season and could be one that decides where the title ends up.

GIT MAKER (3.35) has been best backed since the market opened, into 6-1 favourite having opened at 10-1.

Willie Mullins runs six with SPANISH HARLEM being the choice of Paul Townend and there’s been money around for him at 9-1, while William Hill ambassador Lucinda Russell’s INIS OIRR has also been supported at 12-1.

Another race that could have a big impact on the title race is the Scottish Champion Hurdle, where it’s another Mullins runner in BIALYSTOK (2.25) that has been strongly supported into 6-1 from 9-1.

Another one for money is the well-handicapped FIRST STREET. MARBLE SANDS (1.50) has shortened up in the Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase.

At Newbury, there are two important Guineas trials, and in the Greenham, Kevin Ryan’s ROOM SERVICE (2.40) has been popular (8-1 from 14-1), while in the Fred Darling we’ve taken plenty of money on STAR MUSIC (2.05).

The Spring Mile is highly competitive but the one punters seem to be focusing in on is NOBLE ORDER (3.15), who has nearly halved in price, shortening into 7-1 from 12-1. ODDS