The Scottish Grand National takes place at Ayr on Saturday. In case you missed it, here is part one of our runner-by-runner preview, while part two is below, courtesy of 888’s new customer offer.
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Prime Venture – Evan Williams, Adam Wedge, 11st 0lb
Despite often running consistently in staying handicaps, Prime Venture was still a novice over fences until last season. He rewarded patient fans of his by winning a gruelling veterans’ chase at Sandown in January, but although he was fourth in a Welsh National, his three attempts at four miles or further in the Midlands National have met with significant defeats. The 11-year-old is not one to put too much faith in off 5lb higher than his last winning mark.
Chirico Vallis – Neil Mulholland, Richie McLernon, 11st 0lb
Chirico Vallis had not run over fences for nearly two years when returning at Chepstow last April. Since then, his aptitude for the big obstacles has improved and he has recorded the two highest RPRs of his career on his most recent two starts. After winning back at Chepstow in October from a mark of 130, he has been third in the Classic Chase at Warwick and again at Doncaster, but this may still be an undue test of his stamina after having faded over 3m5f in said Warwick contest.
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Innisfree Lad – David Dennis, Brian Hughes, 10st 13lb
David Dennis’ Innisfree Lad is a horse who clearly relishes a serious test and this race could set up very nicely for him. He was a ready winner at Plumpton in January and ran a big race in the Eider Chase behind Win My Wings last time. He is now 9lb better off with that rival having been dropped 1lb himself and while he is not guaranteed to reverse the form with that rival, that does look a lenient move by the handicapper. He may well prove a useful each-way option.
One More Fleurie – Ian Williams, Charlie Todd (3), 10st 11lb
The handicapper has certainly done his best to give One More Fleurie a fighting chance here. He won four times from the end of February last season, three of those on good ground over three miles. He has found life much tougher this season, but he has run in three Grade 3 handicaps without so much as a hint of leniency in the handicap. He is back down to a mark of 132, 4lb above his last winning mark and while he would be one of the last recommendations on recent form, he could bounce back.
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Major Dundee – Alan King, Tom Cannon, 10st 1llb
Another of the novices, Alan King won with such a horse in 2013. Major Dundee is 2/3 over fences so far, winning his first two starts at Fakenham and Bangor. The latter was over three miles on soft ground, so he is surely a nascent stayer. He returned from 85 days off at the beginning of March, finishing second at Newbury. That form can be viewed positively and the fact he is unexposed means he could well have more to offer.
History Of Fashion – Pat Fahy, Phillip Enright, 10st 9lb
The second of Pat Fahy’s duo, History Of Fashion is another novice who already has experience in a British marathon handicap. However, that experience was brought to an end sooner than would have been hoped as he unseated when well fancied for the Eider Chase. He remains off that same mark of 130, which now also corresponds to his Irish rating after he finished third at Navan last month. It remains to be seen where his ceiling may be and he looks very dangerous once again.
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Court Master – Michael Scudamore, Richard Patrick, 10st 9lb
Fourth in the Eider Chase last time, a race that is probably the key form line here, Court Master is unfortunate to be racing off the same mark here. That is especially the case given the third, Innisfree Lad, has been eased 1lb and it is very difficult to see the rationale for that decision. Nevertheless, Michael Scudamore’s charge will likely give his running again, but a win seems very unlikely for all he has won on his two trips to Scotland at Kelso and Musselburgh.
Ask A Honey Bee – Fergal O’Brien, Connor Brace, 10st 9lb
Despite a promising novice hurdle season, Ask A Honey Bee has made hard work of his debut term over fences. Though he officially has a win and three seconds to his name, the success came at odds of 1/9 when he was rated 35lb superior to his nearest competitor while he was second of two at Catterick last time out. He could make a stayer, but is among the least likely to come good here.
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The Ferry Master – Sandy Thomson, Ryan Mania, 10st 7lb
It is very tempting to forgive a horse a few bad runs when they have run well in a particular race in the past. The Ferry Master was a close up fourth in the Scottish National a year ago and is now 5lb lower than for that effort. He was not in his best in November or December, but did show some spark at Newcastle at the start of March. The problem is that was in a three-runner race and he was beaten a neck into second. A 2lb rise for that is far from generous and he might still be up against it here.
El Paso Wood – David Pipe, Philip Armson (7), 10st 6lb
El Paso Wood somehow managed to throw away a Wincanton double in the dying strides at the start of February. He was one of a number of recruits from France for David Pipe at the start of the season and he has been the most highly-tried with eight starts. He finds himself effectively 6lb lower than when a respectable fourth in the Midlands National two weeks ago and the ground is back in his favour. He has been noticeably well-supported in the market too.
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Cool Mix – Iain Jardine, Alan Doyle (7), 10st 4lb
You suspect that even if everything turned out perfectly for Cool Mix, he would still struggle to win. His last victory came when defeating Sky Pirate in the days where Jonjo O’Neill’s charge possessed a similar affliction. The ten-year-old is now 6lb lower than when fifth in the race last year, but though he has run no shockers since, the overall balance of his form suggests he is an inferior horse now.
Strong Economy – Ian Duncan, Derek Fox, 10st 0lb
Only four of Strong Economy’s 27 races under rules have come away from Ayr, so he is somewhat of a course specialist. All four of his victories have come at the track too, though the last of those came in January 2021. He has never been rated high enough to contest Ayr’s showpiece event though, so despite being 4lb out the handicap, he has been given his chance. Could find his way round even without Derek Fox, but should not be troubling the principles.
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Big Race Verdict
History Of Fashion may be the most dangerous Irish challenger for Pat Fahy, but WIN MY WINGS won the Eider Chase with more to spare than his winning margin suggested and can follow up here. Innisfree Lad and Major Dundee are others who are respected.
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