15:35 Ayr

Saturday 20 April 2024

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

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

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 8m 25.96s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Stay Away Fay^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 158

18/1

Won Albert Bartlett last year and better still over fences this term, winning over at Exeter and Sandown (Grade 2) before Christmas. Disappointed with cheekpieces (quickly discarded) added to regular tongue tie at Cheltenham but he can bounce back faced with a stamina test which should suit.

Form: 14-113P

Mr Incredible⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

7/1

Has looked quirky but no doubting his ability, placing in another good handicap when splitting Beauport and My Silver Lining in the Midlands National on Uttoxeter reappearance. In rear (lost several lengths at start) when unseating halfway in Grand National last weekend.

Form: B23U-2U

Elvis Mail^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 147| C

28/1

Useful handicapper who notched a second chase win of the season when leading close home in a 3m Carlisle veterans' event 13 days ago. Looks vulnerable off 4 lb higher in this much more competitive race.

Form: 1-17371

Beauport³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145

28/1

Bit of a mixed record over fences but he's smart on his day and put it altogether when overcoming some sticky jumping to land the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4¼m, heavy) last month. Raised 5 lb for that but he's unexposed over marathon trips.

Form: 9F-52P1

Ontheropes^t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

66/1

Smart earlier in his career but hasn't shown much obvious promise in 3 outings since returning from a long absence.

Form: 465/PP7

Spanish Harlem^t1⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

12/1

Progressing gradually over fences, finishing third in maiden events around 2½m on all 3 starts. Fascinating contender now stepping up markedly in trip for handicap chase debut.

Form: 22P-333

Gold Cup Bailly^t³⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 140| C

66/1

Useful chaser who won his first 3 starts (including twice here) last season but found life tougher later in the campaign and this is a big ask after a year off.

Form: 111249-

Iron Bridge³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 139| BF

20/1

Bumper/dual hurdle winner who quickly developed into a smart chaser. Best of the rest behind Nassalam in Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas before excellent third in Grand National Trial at Haydock in February. A subsequent no show in the Midlands National since needs forgiving, though.

Form: 22-P23P

Whistleinthedark³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny McMenamin| T: L Morgan| OR: 138

40/1

Won first 4 chases last season but has found ife tougher this time round, finishing well behind Git Maker and Whacker Clan in Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month.

Form: 11-8480

Ballygrifincottage^p,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138

16/1

Low-mileage chaser who warmed up for this by finishing second in a 3m Sandown handicap last month. His stamina has to be taken on trust but his trainer has few peers when it comes to teeing one up for big handicaps.

Form: PP-3P52

Macdermott¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

18/1

Promising 6-y-o who looked a different proposition stepped up to around 3m for the first time when readily making all at Fairyhouse 19 days ago. Faces a much greater stamina test now but there's surely more to come from this lightly-raced sort from an all-conquering yard.

Form: 1-682F1

Tommie Beau⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 136

33/1

Better than ever when winning back to back at Sedgefield (Durham National) and Fontwell (Southern National) in the autumn. Another fine effort when 6¾ lengths third of 12 to Anglers Crag in Eider at Newcastle (33f, soft) last time. A credit to connections.

Form: 241123

Broken Halo^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

40/1

Failed to complete on first 3 outings this season but back on track lately, second in Royal Artillery at Sandown before taking a 3½m handicap at Taunton. This is a lot more competitive, though.

Form: 0-FPU21

Mr Vango^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Ben Jones| T: Sara Bradstock| OR: 135

4/1

Maiden hurdle winner last season and this former point scorer has quickly made up into a much better chaser, producing a useful performance when routing his rivals in Devon National at Exeter. Backed that up when third in National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham Festival. Cheekpieces worn then retained.

Form: 2P3-313

Autonomous Cloud^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 134

22/1

Largely progressive chaser who bounced back from his no show in the Welsh National when 7¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Beauport in the Midlands version at Uttoxeter (4¼m, heavy) last month. Respected.

Form: 221-1P4

Anglers Crag⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 134

14/1

Big improver for new stable after wind surgery, making it 4-4 when overcoming mistakes to edged ahead close home in the Eider at Newcastle (33f, soft) in February. Unlikely to get away with similar errors here but further progress certainly can't be discounted.

Form: 37-1111

Inis Oirr^v⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 133

10/1

Much improved for a first-time visor and an increased stamina test when bolting up in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh (4m, good to soft) in February. Presumably saved for this since by a Scottish yard which won this in 2021.

Form: 4-U4251

My Silver Lining³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133

14/1

Progressive mare who relished the increased test of stamina when bagging her fourth chase win in Classic Chase at Warwick (29f, soft) in January. Excellent placed efforts in the Grand National Trial at Haydock and Midlands National at Uttoxeter (2¼ lengths third to Beauport) since. Should go well.

Form: 122123

Git Maker³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 133

8/1

Good strike-rate under Rules, winning 6 of 11 starts. Better than ever when 8 lengths second to Inothewayurthinkin in Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3¼m, soft), pulling 18 lengths clear of Whacker Clan in third. The winner boosted that form when landing a Grade 1 novice at Aintree last week. On good mark.

Form: 211-162

Surrey Quest^t⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 133

20/1

Dual hurdles winner for Nicky Henderson and improved when bagging chase victories Huntingdon and Newbury either side of Christmas. His run of good form came to a halt when only tenth in the Great Yorkshire at Doncaster (3m, good) in January but the sort to bounce back. Will stay long distances.

Form: 447-110

Klarc Kent²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

50/1

Went close to a first chase success on 21.5f Fairyhouse handicap debut at the end of March. The much longer trip asks a different question but he's another unexposed one in this for his top stable.

Form: P6-3F32

Whacker Clan^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 131

18/1

Progressive chaser who won a pair of handicaps in the first half of the season and gave his all from the front when third of 22 in Kim Mur at Cheltenham, although the reopposing Git Maker was 18 lengths ahead in second. Likeable type for his leading Irish stable.

Form: 931173

Egbert^b³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: A King| OR: 130

50/1

Maiden hurdle winner last term and won a pair of novice handicaps this winter, latterly over 3m at Doncaster. Advanced his form again when runner-up at Kempton (3m, good to soft) in first-time blinkers (retained) last month. Up significantly in trip for a yard with winning form in this race.

Form: 64-1P12

Punitive^t1,v²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 127

125/1

Lost his way for Gordon Elliott. Took a step back in the right direction when third of 7 over 3½m at Ffos Las but it's still hard to make a good case for him here from 5 lb out of handicap. First-time tongue tie goes on.

Form: 6F-0PP3

Secret Reprieve⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127

66/1

Won the Welsh Grand National in 2020/21 and ran well to be placed in good company twice last season. Probably needed his reappearance run at Sandown in March after 12 months on the sidelines. 5 lb out of handicap.

Form: P/923P-6

We'llhavewan^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Kieran Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

25/1

Winner of 3 handicap hurdles this season. Good second back chasing at Punchestown in February but could only manage a well-held sixth in the Irish Grand National over Easter. 5 lb out of handicap.

Form: 916126

Forecasts

Mr Vango (4/1), Mr Incredible (7/1), Git Maker (8/1), Inis Oirr (10/1), Spanish Harlem (12/1), My Silver Lining (14/1), Anglers Crag (14/1), Ballygrifincottage (16/1), Macdermott (18/1), Whacker Clan (18/1), Stay Away Fay (18/1), Surrey Quest (20/1), Iron Bridge (20/1), Autonomous Cloud (22/1), We'llhavewan (25/1), Beauport (28/1), Elvis Mail (28/1), Tommie Beau (33/1), Whistleinthedark (40/1), Broken Halo (40/1), Klarc Kent (50/1), Egbert (50/1), Ontheropes (66/1), Secret Reprieve (66/1), Gold Cup Bailly (66/1), Punitive (125/1)

Jamie Snowden can land another big handicap chase courtesy of GIT MAKER. This 8-y-o bumped into a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and the fact he pulled 18 lengths clear of the reopposing Whacker Clan in third suggests he could be well treated here off only 1 lb higher. Willie Mullins is going all out for the British title after last weekend's Grand National success and his unexposed pair Macdermott and Spanish Harlem are very interesting contenders now stepping up markedly in trip.