A hugely competitive field will do battle in Saturday’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr, which takes place at 3.35pm on April 18. We take a look at the runners for the marathon event north of the border.

The main story revolves around the participation, or lack of, from Willie Mullins’ yard. The Scottish Grand National was a key battleground for the trainers’ championship a year ago, but with Dan Skelton so far clear in that race for 2025/26, Mullins has only declared Kim Muir runner-up Road To Home. He would nevertheless have a chance of replicating stablemates Macdermott and Captain Cody’s successes.

Irish challenge remains strong despite Mullins absentees

Where Mullins has not been so forthcoming, Joseph O’Brien has been. His yard are responsible for four potential runners, including ante-post favourite Kim Roque. The six-year-old was fourth in Kim Muir, staying on at the finish and has untapped potential as one of the youngest members of the line-up.

Margaret Mullins does represented the Mullins family. Margaret’s stable star Blaze The Way is also carrying top-weight in the event after finishing seventh at the Cheltenham Festival. Dublin National winner Promontory is another Irish representative, being trained by Sarah Joanna Connell. The nine-year-old is a former Mullins inmate.

Kim Muir and Ultima form to be tested

The Kim Muir has already come up twice, and its winner may also run here. Ask Brewster produced a minor upset in that contest and has Ayr as a possible destination off a 7lb higher mark.

Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s King Of Answers has proven popular in the betting and will be a leading Scottish-trained runner. The likes of Quebecois and Isaac Des Obeaux will line up for Paul Nicholls, with Montregard another leading challenger for the home brigade

2026 Scottish Grand National Runners

15:35 Ayr

Heavy

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

• Chase Turf
• Turf
• 3m 7f 176y
• Class 1
• 16 runners
• Win time: 9m 5s

GG Edge Standard Compact

Win% is implied from the betting forecast

1st 18 Kap Vert W: 10st 12lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

20/1 (Won)

J: Sean Houlihan T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

OR: — RPR: — Form: 271341

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

2nd 17 2 tips Git Maker W: 10st 12lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

10/1

J: Jonathan Burke T: Jamie Snowden

OR: — RPR: — Form: 0-3P53

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

3rd 15 Kim Roque W: 10st 13lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

4/1F

J: J J Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

OR: — RPR: — Form: 422454

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

4th 4 1 tip Isaac Des Obeaux W: 11st 8lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

17/2

J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Paul Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: 3-3121

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

5th 20 1 tip Chasingouttheblues OUR TIP W: 10st 9lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

11/2

J: Jamie Hamilton T: Mark Walford

OR: — RPR: — Form: 351211

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

6th 19 1 tip Promontory W: 10st 10lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

13/2

J: Donagh Meyler T: Sarah Joanna Connell

OR: — RPR: — Form: -70521

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 1 Blaze The Way W: 12st 0lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

18/1

J: Danny Mullins T: Ms Margaret Mullins

OR: — RPR: — Form: 624157

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 2 1 tip Quebecois W: 11st 13lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

12/1

J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: -24223

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 3 4 tips King Of Answers W: 11st 12lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

9/2

J: Derek Fox T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

OR: — RPR: — Form: -51412

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 7 1 tip Herakles Westwood W: 11st 5lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

20/1

J: James Bowen T: Warren Greatrex

OR: — RPR: — Form: -52410

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 9 Katate Dori W: 11st 4lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

22/1

J: Dylan Johnston T: Sam Thomas

OR: — RPR: — Form: P-7628

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 10 Stolen Silver W: 11st 2lb Age: 11 yo Gelding

50/1

J: Miss Olive Nicholls T: Georgina Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: 4-0P30

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 11 Famous Bridge W: 11st 1lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

25/1

J: Sean Quinlan T: Nicky Richards

OR: — RPR: — Form: P-7707

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 13 1 tip Maximilian W: 11st 1lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

12/1

J: William Maggs T: Donald McCain

OR: — RPR: — Form: -22233

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 14 Gabbys Cross W: 11st 0lb Age: 11 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Sean Bowen T: Nick Scholfield

OR: — RPR: — Form: 043P22

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 16 Collectors Item W: 10st 13lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

33/1

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

OR: — RPR: — Form: 8-294P

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

Non-runners

Our Power, Road To Home, Ask Brewster, Montregard, Magna Sam

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£244.10
Straight Forecast	£209.87
Tricast	£991.89
Trifecta	£1383.10

Selections

The Guardian:

King Of Answers

RP RATINGS:

Montregard

POSTDATA:

Git Maker

The Times:

Promontory

SPOTLIGHT:

Chasingouttheblues

Telegraph:

Quebecois

The Sun:

Isaac Des Obeaux

LAMBOURN:

Herakles Westwood

TOPSPEED:

Maximilian

D Express:

King Of Answers

The Star:

King Of Answers

Daily Record:

King Of Answers

Daily Mirror:

Montregard

Daily Mail:

Git Maker