THE Scottish Grand National is taking place ahead of the Aintree Grand National to allow for three weeks between the Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree meeting. This year’s renewal is certainly very open and Christian Williams has two of the leading contenders with the admirable Kitty’s Light and Win My Wings, who landed the Eider. I prefer to look at The Wolf who clearly stays and Chirico Vallis, who has good each way claims, with Unibet paying six places.
Earlier in the afternoon I’m looking forward to seeing Onemorefortheroad in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, who will be suited by conditions and can win for a lovely group of owners.
Ayr is a fantastic racecourse and I’m look forward to watching the action as well as the coverage from Newbury.
Enjoy whether at a racecourse or #athome watching on ITV or Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.35 Newbury – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f
Royaume Uni showed last time at Fontwell that the step up to this trip really suited him when winning easily, with a 6lb rise more than fair, particularly based on his flat mark. The step up in trip seemed to help him travel better and he has the class to come out on top here.
Unibet 9/2 win
1.50 Ayr – Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase 3m
Sounds Russian has looked highly progressive over fences, completing a hat trick of victories with a very easy success at Kelso last month. He has a 13lb higher mark this afternoon, however he looks to have serious potential and whilst his chase victories have been on soft and heavy, he ran well in his novice hurdling career on good to soft and good.
Unibet 7/2 win
2.25 Ayr – Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m
Onemorefortheroad is a very likeable type who will appreciate the ground conditions after running a good fourth at Sandown last time out on soft, testing conditions and he wasn’t given a hard race after nearly a three-month break. Earlier in the season he notched up a three-timer, culminating in a good win at Newbury, when beating Captain Morgs and then he finished second to Tritonic at Ascot. He has a strong chance here.
Unibet 3/1 win
2.45 Newbury – Novices’ Mares Hurdle Final (Grade 2) 2m 4½f
Largy G is the second string for Noel Williams, who has Speech Bubble near the head of the market. In January, at Newbury, Speech Bubble beat her stablemate Largy G by seventeen lengths, who came from off the pace and was merely nudged along to finish third. Largy G meets her stablemate on 20lb better terms today and gave the impression last time out that there is loads of improvement to come. Largy G has been overlooked and is a lively outsider.
Unibet 33/1 each way
3.35 Ayr – Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase 3m 7f
The Wolf (nap) is having only his fourth start of the season and can get right in the mix in a below par renewal of the Scottish National. On his last appearance in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February on good ground he showed that he gets this trip, when staying on strongly to finish second to Captain Cattistock, with the first two well clear of the field. On his penultimate start he was second at Cheltenham to Full Back on New Year’s Day. He looks like he has been laid out for this race by Olly Murphy and will go well fresh.
Unibet 10/1 each way
Chirico Vallis has been well campaigned by Neil Mulholland and ran commendably on his penultimate start in January at Warwick in the Classic Chase when finishing third behind Éclair Surf and Gericault Roque, with Ultima winner Corach Rambler back in fourth. Chirico Vallis looked like he was going to fade out of contention after the second last but stayed on well. He has since finished an impressive third in a Veterans’ Chase at Doncaster, having beaten Kitty’s Light (likely favourite) on good ground earlier in the season. With six places being paid Chirico Vallis has strong each way claims.
Unibet 22/1 each way
