The big feature is the Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase over four miles, and this looks a competitive renewal as ever with Willie Mullins with six runners, Paul Nicholls two runners and Dan Skelton one runner in their race for the 2024 UK Jumps Trainers’ Championship.

My selections below represent runners who have run over this trip or have raced over at least 3m 4f in a race where they always go at a good gallop. There are plenty of other races to look forward to on this card as well as at Newbury where they have the Fred Darling Stakes and the Greenham Stakes.

Enjoy if you are at Ayr or Newbury or #athome watching on ITV Racing.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster.

1:30 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (1m 4f)

Chesspiece represents the each-way value and has been gelded since his last start. He had some useful form last year, with his best run when just touched off by Desert Hero in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood under similar conditions to today, and if fit for his seasonal reappearance he can reward each way players.

Unibet 11/1 each way

2:25 Ayr – Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m)

L’Eau du Sud will still have the ground in his favour with a bit of rain on Friday so that it doesn’t dry out too much. There’s nothing in here that can match his form this season, a close second in the big Handicap Hurdle at Newbury followed up by another cracking effort in the County Hurdle, finding only the classy Absurde too good, and the pair pulling clear of a solid yardstick in Pied Piper.

L’Eau du Sud has gone up another 3lb for that but with a guaranteed pace to aim at with Effernock Fizz and Rubaud taking them along, he looks sure to run his race again.

Unibet 10/3 win

*Unibet are paying Money Back as Cash if your selection finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race

3:15 Newbury – OLBG Spring Cup Handicap (1m)

Navagio has been generally progressive for his previous Irish yards and lost nothing in defeat on his first start for James Horton when third in the Lincoln, having to wait for a gap before making his challenge but running on gamely when it came, taking third late on. Nicely drawn to track the pace this time, and you’d like to think he’ll come on a bit for that first start since last July, so every reason to think he can take this valuable prize on his route for a crack at the Hunt Cup later in the year.

Unibet 17/2 each way

3:35 Ayr – Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (4m)

Anglers Crag (nap) is four from four this season over fences with wins at Carlisle, Market Rasen, Musselburgh and most importantly in the Eider at Newcastle in February over 4m 1½f when beating Prince des Fichaux by a neck. Anglers Crag had been travelling smoothly throughout until making a blunder at the second last when losing momentum and then worked himself back in the race giving every impression he had plenty of improvement to come. He didn’t run at either Cheltenham or Aintree, with this race the key target and in recent years both Win My Wings and Kitty’s Light have taken the Eider on course to winning the Scottish Grand National.

Unibet 12/1 each way 

Mr Vango is having only his fourth chase start and finished third on chasing debut at Wincanton in December when not unfancied ahead of winning by 60 lengths at Exeter in February in testing conditions when he was crossing the line with the rest of the field just jumping the last! He then headed to The Festival, when this front running type was in the lead till the third last when collared by Corbetts Cross, who went to win easily, with Embassy Gardens in second and Mr Vango 25½ lengths in third.

It is worth mentioning that Mr Vango is on a rating of 135 and Corbetts Cross is now on 165! Mr Vango showed loads of determination at Cheltenham to hang on to his lead and front-running tactics can work well in the Scottish Grand National so expect a big run from this eight-year-old.

Unibet 12/1 each way

Broken Halo is worth a small each way wager at a big price with Unibet paying six places . He won at Taunton beating Enrilo over 3m 4½f in March very cosily when ridden out the back for a late challenge and he could easily outrun his odds here after his best performance of the season.

Unibet 40/1 each way