Tiger Roll may have been a heavy favourite in the Aintree Grand National. But the 2019 Coral Scottish Grand National from Ayr at the weekend looks an altogether more open affair.
There’s no standout favourite for the race, which will be run over 4m with 27 fences to jump. So who should punters be looking out for when the contest gets underway at 3:35pm on ITV4?
There’s plenty to like about Impulsive Star. Neil Mulholland’s charge has been running at these long-distance trips for some time now and always gives a good account over the extended distance.
The nine-year-old won over 3m 5f on his penultimate start when ahead of the likes of Calett Mad and Milansbar at Warwick. Prior to that he’d also finished fourth over 4m at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.
On that basis it’s possible to put a line through his recent disappointing showing at Prestbury Park last month. With the ground in his favour, the Busy Flight gelding looks like one to keep on side at the prices.
Beware The Bear
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson has never won the Coral Scottish Grand National. That could change with the likeable Beware The Bear, who produced a storming display to claim the Ultima at Cheltenham.
The nine-year-old will carry top weight at Ayr. But that’s only fair for his latest Grade 3 win in a season which has also provided a fourth in the Ladbrokes Trophy and a further success at Cheltenham.
Jeremiah McGrath’s mount didn’t get the trip here 12 months ago. That shouldn’t be an issue this time around following a lightly raced campaign. Wind surgery last summer also appears to have opened up further improvement in the Seven Barrows raider.
Crosshue Boy
Trainer: Sean Thomas Doyle
There’s been plenty of support for Crosshue Boy – and not without reason. Sean Thomas Doyle’s charge caught the eye earlier in the season when 10th in the Becher Handicap at Aintree.
A number of those ahead of him that day went on to compete in the Grand National, including Walk In The Mill, who finished a more than respectable fourth last Saturday.
The raider is another who conforms to a number of key form trends. And unlike Carole’s Destrier, who just missed our cut, he’s a nine-year-old; horses that age account for four of the last nine winners of the race.
He’s enjoyed a couple of spins over hurdles to keep him fresh for this test. If he can produce a similar performance to his victory at Ayr 12 months ago when ahead of rival Dingo Dollar, then the Brian Boru gelding should be on the premises.
Kingswell Theatre
Trainer: Michael Scudamore
The bare form of Kingswell Theatre isn’t much to write home about. Michael Scudamore’s charge has only won once over 3m+ and returned to action after 453 days when sixth in the Cross Country at Cheltenham.
Yet his form prior to that layoff was pretty good. Two runs in the latter part of 2017 produced a win at the November Meeting at Cheltenham and a 9l-fourth behind subsequent 2018 Grand National-third Bless The Wings.
His return earlier in the season was solid if unspectacular. If the 10-year-old can come on from that carrying just 10-3 at Ayr, then he could be an interesting play on each-way terms.
Chidswell
Trainer: Nicky Richards
Trainer Nicky Richards was more than gushing as Chidswell sprang a huge shock to finish 9l ahead of favourite Dingo Dollar over 3m 2f in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster last month.
The 10-year-old keeps on improving over these longer trips. Given the way he flew home in Yorkshire it wouldn’t be at all a surprise to see him stay the 4m required to win the Scottish National.
He’ll get the ground in his favour, too, and off 10-0 he looks attractively weighted to follow up that win at Doncaster with another bold showing at Ayr.
