There are Grand Nationals galore at the start of April. The first comes from Ayr on Saturday, with the Scottish Grand National highlighting their packed card. Read part one of our runner-by-runner analysis below, alongside 888‘s new customer offer of £30 In Free Bets + A £10 Casino Bonus.
Hill Sixteen – Sandy Thomson, Mark McDonagh (5), 11st 12lb
Bar an opportunistic run at Kelso at the start of the month, Hill Sixteen would barely have been in the top half of the handicap here. However, he ran a very clear career best in the Listed Premier Chase, belying his mark to be second to the talented Nuts Well. He has also looked useful over staying trips in the past, including when second in the Becher Chase back in December, but it is difficult to see him conceding weight all round here.
Vintage Clouds – Sue Smith, Sean Quinlan, 11st 9lb
This will be the admirable grey’s fourth run in this contest, with form of 736 on his previous three efforts. Vintage Clouds is a safer conveyance nowadays and showed there remains some spark when second at Doncaster in February. That said, he was pulled up when defending his Ultima Handicap title at the Cheltenham Festival and this looks a tough ask off the same mark here.
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Kitty’s Light – Christian WIlliams, Jack Tudor, 11st 8lb
As soon as entries came for the Scottish National, Kitty’s Light became very well fancied for this race. He continues to top most markets despite becoming somewhat of a nearly horse recently. He would likely have won the Bet365 Gold Cup but for late interference and he has had three further runner-up finishes since, at Chepstow, in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, and most recently at Kempton. That was behind stablemate Cap Du Nord and was easily his best effort for a while. His stamina should see out this trip, but there could be question marks about how well-weighted he is.
Fantastikas – Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies, 11st 8lb
Five of the last nine renewals of the Scottish Grand National have been novices. The Twiston-Davies’ will look to extend that excellent record with Fantastikas, a two-time winner this season. He has faced up to some top novices this season in the likes of Threeunderthrufive and L’Homme Presse. He was only seventh in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival, so while he has been eased 1lb in what could be a slightly easier race, he does not make dramatic appeal.
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Fidux – Alan King, Daryl Jacob, 11st 7lb
Fidux last won in June last year and while he is only 2lb higher, he looks up against it. He has never won in the winter or spring, the two main jumping seasons, over fences and while his best effort at Haydock would not discount him, he is extremely exposed having raced prolifically in his career. He is vulnerable in this lineup.
Jersey Bean – Oliver Sherwood, Brendan Powell, 11st 5lb
Twice a winner after a sizeable break, Jersey Bean returns for the first time in 133 days since a remarkable victory at Haydock in November. However, his last run after a layoff was arguably his worst when fresh in his career, so perhaps it should not be taken as gospel that he will be at his best. Moreover, that Haydock win took him to his highest chase mark, but he improved for quite literally every yard of 3m4½f last time. If he can avoid getting too outpaced, there could be an each-way chance for him here.
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Win My Wings – Christian Williams, Rob James (7), 11st 5lb
The nine-year-old mare has found her niche over staying distances and Rob James, called upon for some big rides for Gordon Elliott at Cheltenham, takes off what could be a valuable 7lb. Win My Wings has won four of her last six starts, including the last twice at Exeter over 3m and then the Eider Chase at Newcastle as favourite. That was over 4m1½f and proved she has a real aptitude for marathons, while an 8lb rise is not harsh given how well she travelled into the race. An even more patient ride could see her go in again.
Ashtown Lad – Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton, 11st 5lb
“Marathon trips will be perfect for him next year” Dan Skelton said of Ashtown Lad back in October. He may be trying him even sooner than expected here after four chase starts so far. He has twice been unable to live with the very useful Ahoy Senor, but has otherwise won at Wetherby and gone close off this mark in a novice handicap at Haydock. His trainer’s words give confidence he will stay, but a mark of 140 looks heady enough for his achievements thus far.
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The Wolf – Olly Murphy, Adrian Heskin, 11st 4lb
Olly Murphy’s charge has had nine starts over fences so far, but his last two efforts have shown where his forte lies. The Wolf was a strongly staying-on second to Full Back at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day before finishing with a real flourish in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh over 3m7½f. He is up another 2lb, but is very much progressing the right way in these types of races and if this ends up a stamina test, there will be few lasting home as well as the eight-year-old.
Streets Of Doyen – John McConnell, Kieren Buckley (5), 11st 4lb
Streets Of Doyen has not found chasing as straightforward as hurdling, with just one win to date over the larger obstacles. That came on his chase debut, but he has suffered defeats at Worcester and Navan since, as well as refusing to race and pulling up at Cheltenham. In truth, he has been a bit all over the place, but he was third in the Albert Bartlett in 2021 and this race could well suit him. May find it difficult to win, but could surprise a few.
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Stormy Judge – Pat Fahy, Danny Mullins, 11st 4lb
The second of three Irish challengers, Stormy Judge is a full brother to Mister Fogpatches from the same yard, who was third in this a year ago. Stormy Judge improved for stepping up to three miles when winning a Navan novices’ handicap last March and only returned on exactly the same day 12 months later in the Leinster National. He could finish only fifth, but does get to run off the same mark as his Irish one here. There would definitely be ground query should there not be any rain before Saturday though.
Via Dolorosa – David Pipe, Tom Scudamore, 11st 2lb
It has taken a bit of time, but Via Dolorosa has discovered his A-Game for David Pipe in March. The key may well have been better ground, as though his British debut came in the Grand Sefton in November, the ground probably rode slower than the official good-to-soft that day. His next three starts were all on slow ground, but he has won his last two on quicker surfaces at Southwell and Fakenham. This is a decidedly tougher handicap, but as a French import, there must be hope for his stamina and he could well progress further at some price here.
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Come back soon for Part 2, including our big race verdict.
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