Always Right’s form receives boost ahead of Scottish Grand National

John Wade’s Always Right finished third behind Beshabar and Coral Scottish Grand National institution Merigo in last year back in 2011 and after an abortive assault on it’s Aintree equivalent last year he returns to the Ayr four miler with much to recommend the 10/1 shot to punters.

After winning his opening race of last term things went rapidly down hill for the gelding, with just one of his subsequent four starts completed and that an eleventh place in a Market Rasen handicap.

However after a low key start to the season in which he finished seventh of 10, very much in need of the race, he stepped up dramatically on that performance when winning a 2m7f Kelso Chase from Garleton – sixth in the Scottish National in 2012 – in March.

Further down the field were 2011 Grand National king Ballabriggs in third and this year’s Aintree champion Auroras Encore in fifth, who had also finished a head second in last year’s Ayr Marathon.

The 11-year-old will take his chance at Ayr off a mark of 143, meaning he’ll be just 1lb higher in the handicap than he was when a length from Scottish National glory two years ago.

On that occasion he was forced to run from out of the handicap, finding himself 3lbs wrong at the weights due to the 168-rated Neptune Collonges taking his place in the contest. This year with Weird Al the highest rated entrant on 158, John Wade’s chaser is certain to race from within the regular handicap.

In addition Always Right’s official rating places him right at the top of the 10 year trends ratings bracket. Eight of the last 10 victors were rated 143 or lower.

Unlike many ante-post pics there is little the weather could do improve or hinder his chances a week on Saturday, with the form book noting four wins from seven runs on soft ground and a first and a second on good-to-firm.