15:35 Ayr

Saturday 22 April 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 8m 10.29s

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Selected odds by:

Dusart^p1⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 154| C

18/1

Quickly made up into a very smart performer over fences last season, winning 3 of his 4 starts, but he jumped with little fluency when puled up in Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (25.2f, good to soft) 84 days ago. Cheekpieces go on now with something to prove.

Form: 1151-6P

Threeunderthrufive^p,t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

16/1

Won 4 novice chases last term but yet to score this season and tongue tied when eighth of 23 in Ultima at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Cheekpieces go back on with more needed.

Form: 16-3U68

Empire Steel⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 145| C

22/1

Resumed winning ways in 4-runner listed chase at Kelso (23.4f, good to soft) 49 days ago by ¾ length from Le Milos. Significantly up in trip. Needs considering.

Form: P12-701

Kitty's Light^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 140

4/1

Runner-up in this contest 12 months ago and he got back on track when bagging Eider at Newcastle 56 days ago, getting up late on. Cheekpieces are refitted and he's not taken lightly despite taking an 8 lb rise.

Form: 668731

Malina Girl²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: S W Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 137

8/1

Irish novice who recorded her third win of the season in 13-runner handicap chase at Downpatrick (28.6f, heavy) 20 days ago. Remains unexposed as a stayer so she's firmly in the picture despite having a career-high mark to overcome.

Form: 3123P1

Undersupervision^p⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136

16/1

Unreliable sort but he turned in one of his better efforts when second of 7 in handicap chase at Doncaster (26f, good) 49 days ago. Up in trip. Others remain more persuasive.

Form: 1P-3PU2

Ruthless Article^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135

50/1

Better than ever last summer when scoring at Uttoxeter but he beat only one back from an 8-month break at Ascot 20 days ago. Has something to prove now.

Form: P6-U215

Lord Accord^p,t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135

25/1

Useful handicap chaser who was successful at Cheltenham in October. Largely below par since though, including when pulling up in Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Others are preferred.

Form: 31296P

Flash Collonges^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134

17/2

Got off the mark in this sphere in 5-runner handicap at Newbury (23.4f, good to firm) 49 days ago. Should stay this longer distance and he can't be dismissed for yard which has a good record here.

Form: P2-2231

Cooper's Cross^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 133| BF

25/1

Dual chase winner this term who was running another good race when fell 4 out in Topham at Aintree (21.1f, good to soft) 8 days ago. No forlorn hope over this longer distance.

Form: 13216F

Cap Du Nord^p⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 132| BF

18/1

Back to winning ways in valuable event at Ascot in February but only ninth in 3m Kempton handicap a week later. Possibly found the run coming too quickly there so possibilities after a break.

Form: 350219

Flash De Touzaine^p,t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: R Deegan⁽³⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 130

40/1

Opened his account over fences at Galway in October and posted a solid fifth in first-time cheekpieces in 3m Navan handicap 33 days ago. More is required significantly up in trip here.

Form: 4-10F95

Manothepeople²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| BF

9/1

Went 2-2 over fences in 3m Chepstow novice handicap in December and posted very good second of 3 in 23f Newbury handicap after a break last time. May do better still now going over a marathon trip. Shortlisted.

Form: 311-112

Your Own Story³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127| BF

4/1

Suited by an increased test of stamina when getting off the mark over fences at Wetherby (31f). Bettered that form when second in 3m4f Haydock handicap later in March so he needs considering despite being 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 423212

Magna Sam⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Alex Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 125

14/1

Better than ever after 9 months off on his yard debut when landing Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February. That form has been franked so he can't be ruled out despite being 3 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 5113-P1

Mighty Thunder^p,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 125| CD

12/1

Won this event in 2021 but seems not the force of old nowadays, never-dangerous fifth to Elvis Mail in handicap chase at Kelso (26.2f) 28 days ago. This greater stamina test will suit but he's 3 lb "wrong" in the weights.

Form: 0PF765

Half Shot²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 121| BF

25/1

Opened his chase account at Sedgefield in October and has continued in very good form, runner-up in 3m2f Kelso handicap four weeks ago. 7 lb "wrong" in the weight here but still no forlorn hope.

Form: 113222

Small Present^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 120

50/1

Useful stayer over hurdles but his chase efforts this season have been disappointing. Others are much preferred.

Form: 453669

Non-Runners

Monbeg Genius³⁹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Elvis Mail²⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: N W Alexander J: Bruce Lynn

Famous Bridge³²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: N G Richards J: B S Hughes

Waitnsee⁴¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 9

T: J P Ryan J: D E Mullins

Flower Of Scotland²⁸

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: A M Thomson J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Kitty's Light (4/1), Your Own Story (4/1), Monbeg Genius (4/1), Malina Girl (8/1), Flash Collonges (17/2), Manothepeople (9/1), Mighty Thunder (12/1), Magna Sam (14/1), Elvis Mail (14/1), Flower Of Scotland (14/1), Threeunderthrufive (16/1), Undersupervision (16/1), Cap Du Nord (18/1), Dusart (18/1), Empire Steel (22/1), Cooper's Cross (25/1), Half Shot (25/1), Lord Accord (25/1), Famous Bridge (25/1), Flash De Touzaine (40/1), Small Present (50/1), Ruthless Article (50/1), Waitnsee (50/1)

Jonjo O'Neill's MONBEG GENIUS is a young chaser firmly on the up and looks weighted to gain his biggest prize yet having run a cracker when a clear third to Corach Rambler in Cheltenham's Ultima last time. Irish challenger Malina Girl is another novice with better days ahead of her and Gavin Cromwell's mare is feared most, with last year's runner-up Kitty's Light, hat-trick seeking Famous Bridge and Your Own Story completing the shortlist.