The Dutchman to scupper home hopes

Scottish trainers will be strongly represented at Ayr tomorrow as they try to keep their own Grand National trophy at home for the first time since 2012.

Harriet Graham’s Aye Right is ante-post favourite for the showpiece, but must concede weight to all his 22 opponents following his string of placed efforts in hugely-competitive races.

But one big-priced contender who could be lurking on a very dangerous mark hails from just south of the border.

THE DUTCHMAN’S letter-heavy form figures are not immediately enticing, but he is nowhere near as bad a jumper as they imply.

Trained in Cumbria by the in-form Tristan Davidson, the 11-year-old was being targeted at this race 12 months ago until coronavirus caused the call-off. He was still travelling fine when unseating on the second circuit in the 2018 Grand National and, after a long break, has run just four times since switching to current connections.

The Dutchman was a head second in a good veterans’ handicap at Haydock, was then in front when falling four out in a Grade Three at Wetherby and still very much in contention before exiting Newcastle’s Eider Chase.

Prominent among others capable of delivering a home victory is

Milnathort-based Lucinda Russell, who runs both Mighty Thunder and Big River.

Kerry Lads was second for the Milnathort trainer back in 2004, and she would love to go one better.

She said: “When I first started training back in 1995 it was always the aim. It’s a race over four miles, and I tend to train stayers – even back in those days – so it was always the aim for the horses.

“I think it’s a race that would just complete my CV. It’d be rather nice.”

Russell, who became only the second Scottish trainer to win the Grand National at Aintree when One For Arthur prevailed in 2017, has noticed an increase in investment in the racing industry north of the border. “I do think that four or five years ago, racing was really in the doldrums up here,” she said. “I think it’s really picked up – we’re attracting a lot more media exposure.”

SELECTIONS:

AYR (TOMORROW): 1.15 King D’argent, 1.50 Marown, 2.25 Anna Bunina, 3.00 TAMAROC DU MATHAN (NAP), 3.35 The Dutchman, 4.10 Wetlands, 4.45 Floating Rock, 5.20 Home Fire. BANGOR: 11.25 Badness Backfires, 11.55 Shady Character, 12.25 Casa Tall, 12.55 Catlin, 1.25 Dog Of War, 1.55 Interconnected, 2.25 Quickbuck.

THIRSK: 11.10 Cobra Kai, 11.40 Shalaa Asker, 12.10 Billy Wedge, 12.40 Kolossus, 1.10 Stroxx, 1.40 Golden Pass, 2.10 Toro Strike, 2.40 Invincible Swagger. DOUBLE: Toro Strike and Tamaroc Du Mathan