The birth of Team Tartan has been one of the few gains in lockdown
Eight days after utter Irish dominance on English soil, a ninestrong battalion seeks to keep the Coral Scottish Grand National trophy on home turf.
The remarkable Henry de Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times led home a 1-2-3-4 for the raiding party at Aintree.
But at the end of a season in which Evan Williams won his dream Welsh National with Secret Reprieve, there are high hopes of a first Scottish success since Merigo claimed a second title in 2012.
Aye Right, trained in Jedburgh by Musselburgh clerk of the course, Harriet Graham, heads the betting of a 23-runner Ayr field.
Team Tartan? Listening to both Graham and Kinross trainer Lucinda Russell, there’s certainly less of an “every man and woman for themselves” feel these days.
Russell saddles Edinburgh National winner, Mighty Thunder, and Kelso specialist, Big River.
She suggests a spirit born from tough times has created a greater atmosphere of understanding and support within the nation’s training fraternity.
Russell noted: “Something we haven’t talked about much is, with trainers able to go racing but not so much owners in the last year, there’s a really good bond between the Scottish trainers.
“More of your peers coming up and saying: ‘Well done’ is noticeable. It’s nice. Maybe people are more emotional about things through Covid times, I don’t know.
“We have to do it for the good of the sport in Scotland, whoever is doing the promoting.
“Since 2017, Scottish racing has got better. Owners investing money in really nice horses, trainers upgrading facilities.
“Harriet taking Aye Right to Newbury was fantastic. In future, we’ll have even more Scottish interest in big handicaps.”
Aye Right’s second in that Ladbrokes Trophy is one of a handful of fine performances without victory this season.
That consistency means the eight-year-old lumps 11st 11lb around Ayr today, one pound shy of top weight
Lake View Lad’s burden.
The form of Aye Right and Vintage Clouds from Cheltenham is boosted by the horse splitting the third and first in the Ultima, Happygolucky, triumphing at Aintree.
“It’s great form,” noted Graham. “He’s not a horse that takes resting very well, so we’ve kept him going.
“We’re perhaps vulnerable at the weight since the rise, but have to take our chance.
“My instinct is he’ll stay four miles if he gets into his rhythm.
“A lot of locals ask after him – from the butchers to the neighbouring farms – and they all say he deserves to win a big one now!”
Tom Scudamore deputises for luckless Blair Campbell, out with a broken hand, on Mighty Thunder.
Russell’s yard, fresh from Ahoy Senor causing 66/1 Grade One shock at Aintree on his second hurdles start, are eyeing another big success.
“It would complete the CV rather nicely,” said Russell in a media call hosted by Great British Racing.
“We’ve won the big threemile novice hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree, and won a Grand National.
“It would be fantastic to get on the Scottish National roll of honour and nice for Scotland to win. Because it’s hard.
“It’s a valuable handicap and a lot of the southern trainers have good novices for the race every year.”
The Scottish challenge also features Dingo Dollar, The Ferry Master (Sandy Thomson), Lake View Lad (Nick Alexander), Dino Boy, Cool Mix (Iain Jardine) and Claud And Goldie (Sandy Forster).
▪ FOUR TO FOLLOW – Mighty Thunder (10/1), Dingo Dollar (11/1), The Ferry Master (16/1), Some Chaos (20/1).