Satuday 2nd April 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

The 1:15 kicks off my preview for Scottish Grand National Day at Ayr and it’s a Listed Handicap Chase that’s contested over two miles and half of a furlong. Sebastapol sets the standard here on official ratings and is the rightful favourite following his success last time out, he’ll be tough to beat but I’ve decided to take him on with one at a bigger price. I’ve tried to do that with Malystic at 11/2 for Peter Niven and Brian Hughes, he was last seen when unseating at Doncaster on his belated seasonal reappearance last month, however, last season he made significant progress winning twice before finishing second behind Allmankind in a Grade 2. It’s very likely he’ll strip fitter for that outing at Doncaster and if carrying on his progression from last term he’s every chance of having a major say in this.

Next up is the 1:50 which is the Novice’s Champion Handicap Chase, a Class 2 event over three miles. This is a competitive affair of which a case can be made for most of them, I think it can go to Dusart though for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville at 9/4. He was last seen when finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. That was a very tough assignment to be set on what was just his third outing over fences, and I still believe that he has considerable potential to go on to compete at the highest level. I think he’s the classiest horse in the line-up and it would be disappointing should he not put in a bold showing.

We now move onto the 2:25 which is the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle that’s contested over a distance of two miles. This is another extremely competitive contest in which I’ve sided with West Cork at 3/1 for Dan and Harry Skelton. Connections had success here on the Friday card and I think they’ve got a great chance of more here with this eight-year-old, he was last seen when running a cracking race in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham a few weeks ago where he finished fourth. His most impressive performance of the season though had to be when winning the Greatwood, also at Cheltenham on the back of a large lay-off. I think he’s a very talented hurdler and if anywhere near his best for this task he should prove to be a big player.

It’s the 3:00 next which is the Grade 2 Champion Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and four and a half furlongs. The race has attracted just the five runners, but all five arrive here with a chance and as a result the betting isn’t seperated by a great deal. I’ve come down on Do Your Job at 9/4 for the team of Michael Scudamore and Richard Patrick, he’s a course and distance winner and has proved himself to be very progressive this term. He’s got two wins to his name, including a last time out success at Newcastle where he got the better of a decent yardstick by half of a length. I think there could still be more to come from him and if using his course form to his advantage he’s got every chance of going close here again.

Concluding my preview for this week is the 3.35 which is the Scottish Grand National, a Grade 3 Handicap Chase that’s contested over four miles with over £80,000 going to the winner. In this year’s renewal of the race I’ve taken a chance on The Ferry Master for Sandy Thomson and Ryan Mania, who’s currently trading at a best price of 10/1. He’s not tasted success for quite a while now, however, he’s still a faily consistent horse and often runs his race, which he did last year in this race where he finished a fantastic fourth behind Mighty Thunder. Another stab at this contest will have been the plan all season and off a five pound lower mark than his fine effort last year he’s got to be considered a player if getting a bit of luck in the run.