The Scottish Grand National (Saturday 13 April), sponsored by Coral, is a handicap chase run over 3 miles 7 furlongs and 176 yards at Ayr Racecourse. First run in 1867, it has been run at Ayr since 1966. Since then, notable winners have included Red Rum, Little Polveir, and Earth Summit, three horses that also won the English Grand National.
Scottish Grand National 10-Year-Trends
- 9 of the last 10 winners have carried 11-3 or less, with seven carrying 10-9 or less
- Winners have been aged either seven, eight, nine, or eleven
- 9 of the last 10 winners have been rated between 133 and 146, with the other rated 127
- SP’s have ranged from 15/2 to 40/1, with seven winners returned at double-figure odds
- Paul Nicholls has trained two of the last three winners
- Sam Twiston-Davis has ridden two of the last three winners
Scottish Grand National Main Contenders
Dingo Dollar
His third in this season’s Ladbrokes Trophy is an excellent piece of form, with the horses that finished in front and behind him subsequently going on to win the Welsh Grand National and the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, whilst the sixth ran a cracker to be second in the Midlands National off top-weight. Carries 10-13 but is rated 1lb higher than any of the last 10 winners on a mark of 147. First try at four-miles.
Big River
Won on his only previous visit to Ayr but is also having his first run over four-miles with an ideal rating of 140 and only 10-6 on his back. Stayed on to be fourth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham but, strictly on a form-line with Beware The Bear, he has plenty to find with Dingo Dollar.
Vintage Clouds
Well-fancied for last week’s Grand National but fell at the first fence. He did run well when third in last year’s Scottish Grand National but he’s 8lb higher this year on a mark of 149 and has a lot more weight on his back.
Beware The Bear
Won the Ultima Handicap Chase in good style at Cheltenham last time but defying a mark of 160 and top-weight of 11-12 will take some doing. He’s also 13lb worse of with Dingo Dollar on their running in the Ladbrokes Trophy, where he finished one-place behind him.
Crosspark
Travels well in his races and, after a couple of wins over shorter trips earlier in the season, he seemed to relish the step up to four-miles when winning the Eider Chase last time. He also looks ideally weighted on a mark of 142 and with 10-8 on his back, and he looks a solid each-way bet against the higher-rated horses.
Scottish Grand National 2019 Summary
The form of Dingo Dollar’s run in the Ladbrokes Trophy entitles him to be favourite, and he holds Big River, Vintage Clouds, and Beware The Bear on that form. However, as his stamina for four-miles must be taken on trust, Crosspark is preferred off an ideal rating.
Scottish Grand National 2019 Tip
- Crosspark (Each-way)