The final field for Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase has been reduced to 18 from 21 after heavy rain hit the Ayr track on Friday. Kim Roque narrowly heads the market. The going description for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr was changed to soft, heavy in places (from soft, good to soft in places) towards the end of Friday’s fixture.
A heavy shower after the third race had an impact on the ground. The going was changed before the last, with the GoingStick updated to 6.3 this morning.
Mullins’ Runner Withdraws
Willie Mullins will not be landing a hat-trick of victories in the £200,000 race after his sole runner Road To Home was taken out of the race due to the ground. Mullins won with Captain Cody last year and Macdermott in 2024. He had plenty of runners in the Ayr showpiece in the last two years as he pursued the British trainers’ title, but with that out of reach this time he made only one entry. Magna Sam and Ask Brewster are also non-runners because of the ground.
Contenders in the Spotlight
Trained by Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Kim Roque has had just three starts in Britain. He was last seen finishing fourth in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival.
King Of Answers is also prominent in the market. He stayed on well for second when stepped up in trip in the National Hunt Chase at the festival for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.
Leading owner JP McManus, who won the Grand National last week with I Am Maximus, has one contender in the Tom Lacey-trained Montregard. Montregard landed the Swinley Handicap Chase at Ascot in February and has been backed into 7-1 third favourite having been 10-1 on Thursday.
Midlands National winner Isaac Des Obeaux is partnered by Sam Twiston-Davies. Ultima third Quebecois is ridden by Harry Cobden, both representing Paul Nicholls.
Scottish Grand National Runners
- Blaze The Way Danny Mullins
- Quebecois Harry Cobden
- King of Answers Derek Fox
- Isaac des Obeaux Sam Twiston-Davies
- Our Power Danny Gilligan
- Road To Home NON-RUNNER
- Herakles Westwood James Bowen
- Ask Brewster NON-RUNNER
- Katate Dori Dylan Johnston
- Stolen Silver Olive Nicholls (5)
- Famous Bridge Sean Quinlan
- Montregard Stan Sheppard
- Maximilian William Maggs (3)
- Gabbys Cross Sean Bowen
- Kim Roque JJ Slevin
- Collectors Item Jonjo O’Neill Jr
- Git Maker Jonathan Burke
- Kap Vert Sean Houlihan
- Promontory Donagh Meyler
- Chasingouttheblues Jamie Hamilton
- Magna Sam NON-RUNNER
Elsewhere, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Albert Einstein bids to bounce back from a below-par reappearance in the Group 3 Watership Down Stud-sponsored Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.