Scottish Grand National Preview

3.50 Ayr SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE GRADE 3 (CLASS 1) (5yo+) 4m110y

Previous run: winner Ayr 43 days; Nineteen previous chase runs; Course winner prior to win

Previous run: Second NH Chase Cheltenham 31 days; Four previous chase runs;

Previous run: Unplaced Doncaster 28 days; Ten previous chase runs; Course winner prior to win

Previous run: Winner Wincanton 9 days; Fifteen previous chase runs

Previous run: Third Wincanton 30 days; Thirteen previous chase runs

Previous run: Unplaced Carlisle 14 days; Ten previous chase runs

Previous run: Second Warwick 57 days; Twenty previous chase runs

Previous run: Won Aintree 7 days; Six previous chase runs; Course winner prior to win

Previous run: Won Doncaster 42 days; Twenty-four previous chase runs; Course winner prior to win

Previous run: Third Kempton Park 49 days: Twenty previous chase runs; Course winner prior to win

Ten-Year Statistics

Only one winner carried more than 10-9

All winners were eight, nine, ten, or eleven

No favourite has won

Previous run between seven and fifty-seven days

Previous chase runs between four and twenty-four

No Irish trained winners

Seven of the ten winners had won or placed over four-miles

Horses to Ponder

Auroras Encore: Official ratings show him 11lb higher than Aintree but only 5lb higher than last year when beaten in a photo; Course winner; Winner on soft

Always Right: Third in 2011; Official rating is just 1lb higher; Arrives in good form; Winner on soft

Big Occasion: Excellent chase record; Won Midland Grand National; just 6lb higher; Best form over fences on heavy ground

Bradley: Claims at best, well-handicapped; Jumping has been a question mark on recent runs; Best on good through to soft

Godsmejudge: Third in NH Chase (See Beshabar); Clear chance on weights taking respective RPR’s into account; Handles good through to heavy

King Fontaine: Course winner, third last year; will run off a 10lb lower mark if top-weight runs; Winner on good and good to soft

Knockara Beau: Well-handicapped these days; reunited with Jan Faltejsek who was on top for eight of his nine wins; Best good to soft through to heavy

Lively Baron: Stays well; Outside chance on best form; Best on good through to soft

Mister Marker: Course winner on soft: Beat Posh Bird who ran well in 2012 Eider chase; Stays four-miles; One run this season and will arrive a fresh horse

Monsieur Cadou: In-form and stays well: Holds King Fontaine on Haydock Park running: Winner on good to soft and soft, placed on heavy

Mr Moss: Improving profile; Should reverse form Doncaster with Quentin Collonges at the weights; previous form with Wyck Hill another sound effort: Handles good through to soft

Neptune Equester: Arrives in good form and handicapped to run well if refinding his best form back over fences; Chase form is best on good and good to soft

Nuts N’Bolts: Ran well at Cheltenham; Short on chasing experience but improving; Course winner on soft and heavy

Our Mick: Second at Cheltenham and lightly raced this season; Winner on soft and heavy

Problema Tic: Running into form, stays well hold Quentin Collonges on novice form; Course winner; Best on good and good to soft

Rebeccas Choice: In-form on soft to heavy ground; Second in Midlands Grand National recently; Chance at weights

Rose Of the Moon: Stays well; Effective on good to soft though to heavy; Has been found out when upped to this grade

Quentin Collonges: Game front-runner; Won the race at Doncaster Grey Abbey won on his previous run; Best on good ground

Rival D’Estruval: Fell in NH Chase when looking likely to finish in the first three at least; Holds Godsmejudge on that form and has a good shout; Possibly best when fresh; Winner on soft and heavy