So, with the Irish Grand National and the Grand National at Aintree done and dusted, all attentions now switch to the Scottish Grand National. The Coral Scottish Grand National is set to take place at Ayr Racecourse this coming Saturday and already racing enthusiasts are excitingly anticipating another great race. Gordon Elliott, the leading Irish trainer, will be looking to make it a hat-trick of Grand National wins after being victorious in the Irish and the Grand National.
As things stand, all eyes are on Vincente ahead of the big race, as the Paul Nicholls trained horse sets out to make history. He’s won back to back Scottish Grand Nationals and is now looking to make it three on the bounce, becoming the first horse to do so since Couvrefeu II over a century ago. It’s likely that Sam Twiston-Davies will take the mount for Nicholls as he’s been onboard for the previous two victories.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, father to jockey Sam, will be sending Cogry and Benbens up to Ayr for the big race, with them finishing second and third respectively in the 2017 fixture. The Warren Greatrex winner of the Kim Muir at Cheltenham just a few weeks ago, Missed Approach, is also set to be entered into the Scottish Grand National too.
There will be a lot of interest surrounding Gordon Elliott’s entries into the race. The leading Irish trainer saw General Principle win the Irish Grand National, before Tiger Roll held on for victory in the Grand National at Aintree. He’s sending Fagan, owned by Ronnie Bartlett, and Folsom Blue to Ayr as he looks to complete the remarkable Grand National hat-trick. Both horses have a great chance of winning the race, with Folsom Blue the main hope.
Colin Tizzard is looking to follow up his Gold Cup victory at Cheltenham with Native River by winning the Scottish Grand National. The West Country trainer has five entries in the Ayr feature which include Sizing Codelco, Sizing Tennessee and West Approach. Lucinda Russell is also out for victory too as she sends Big River to Ayr. Russell is going in search of her first Scottish National win and there are plenty who think that the highly talented Big River will be there or thereabouts as they approach the finish line.
Nicky Henderson will also be present at the race, as he sends three for the feature. Beware The Bear, Gold Present and Sugar Baron are the champion trainer’s hopes, with many feeling that Beware The Bear is the most likely of the three to go close. Right now most people believe that Vincente is the one to beat on the day as he looks to claim his third Scottish Grand National victory. So anyone who fancies a flutter need not wait for race day, but can place their bets with any number of popular online horse betting sites like Betpoint. With all your bets placed, one can then turn their full attention to enjoying the great day and all it has to offer, which will hopefully include collecting your winnings.
It should be a very interesting race at Ayr Racecourse, with so many in with a chance of winning on the day. There’s also records to be broken and history to be made too and that will certainly add a bit more excitement to proceedings. Can Vincente win his third Scottish Grand National in a row? Or could Gordon Elliott complete the treble of Grand National wins?
