Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National is set to be a hugely competitive renewal, which takes place at Ayr racecourse at 3:35pm. A bumper field of 23 runners will head to the near 4m start for the highlight on the National Hunt calendar north of the border and we take a look at all the runners taking their chance in the marathon event.
1. Mr Incredible
(Sandy Thomson/Alice Stevens) 12st (Trainer/Jockey) (Weight)
Runner-up in both the Classic Chase at Warwick and the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter when trained by Willie Mullins earlier in his career, Mr Incredible has since moved to Sandy Thomson and has become a frustrating performer. Refusing to race at Wetherby on Boxing Day, he’s since pulled up at Kelso on his last start and off top weight faces a gargantuan task, even if he does break on terms.
2. Henry’s Friend
(Ben Jones/Ben Pauling) 11st 8lb
A superb six-length winner of the Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury at the end of December, Henry’s Friend failed to defy a 7lbs rise when finishing a creditable eighth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. Dropped 1lb for that effort, he’s one that is still open to improvement and could well be a key contender for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.
3. Our Power
(Sam Thomas/Dylan Johnston) 11st 7lb
One of the most experienced runners in the field, Our Power ended last season finishing 11th in the Grand National at Aintree. He’s failed to get his head in front this season, but has finished second twice at Cheltenham, while he was third in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton on his last outing. Because he’s been hugely consistent then he remains on a pretty high mark and he could be vulnerable to some improving rivals.
4. Olympic Man
(Willie Mullins/Patrick Mullins) 11st 6lb
Lightly-raced over fences having only broken his duck over the larger obstacles last time out in a beginners chase at Naas in March. The eight-year-old novice chaser will lack the experience of some of his rivals having only had three starts over fences, but it’s interesting that Willie Mullins opts to send him into a race of this magnitude and he’s certainly one that could go under the radar for the Closutton team.
5. Macdermott
(Willie Mullins/Danny Mullins) 11st 6lb
A tremendous winner of this race 12 months ago, Macdermott narrowly denied Surrey Quest in a barnstorming finish, but the Willie Mullins-trained star has failed to build on that effort since. He’s failed to finish in three of his four races since that Ayr victory and he will have to defy a 5lbs higher mark in the 2025 renewal. However, he’s prominent in the latest betting for the contest and looks to become the first horse since Vicente to win back-back renewals.
6. Famous Bridge
(Nicky Richards/Sean Quinlan) 11st 5lb
Hugely progressive this season with some fine efforts in top staying handicap chases. The Nicky Richards-trained nine-year-old finally got his head in front when winning Haydock’s Grand National Trial in February, so this stamina test will suit. A fine run in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month saw the nine-year-old finish sixth and he is one that could easily replicate that run again and adds depth to the event.
7. Captain Cody
(Willie Mullins/Harry Cobden) 11st 4lb
Winless in four starts over fences, Captain Cody may not be one of the flagbearers for Willie Mullins in this race, but he could be one that is capable of more on the track than that he has shown. He unseated in the middle of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month, whilst prior to that he was a decent third in a beginners chase at Navan. This will be his toughest test to date, but he’s quietly fancied to run a big race.
8. Surrey Quest
(Toby Lawes/Kevin Brogan) 11st 3lb
Gallant in defeat in last year’s race, Surrey Quest was beaten a nose in a real head-bobbing finish to the 2024 renewal, and the Toby Lawes-trained is looking to go one better this time around. Third in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh last time out, the eight-year-old has to be capable of going close again, but he’s 6lbs higher this year, so it’s going to be tough.
9. Chosen Witness
(Willie Mullins/Sean O’Keeffe) 11st 1lb
Potentially the spearhead of the Willie Mullins charge, Chosen Witness is still a maiden over fences after three starts, but is one that could be very attractively handicapped. Last seen unseating the rider in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan, the eight-year-old has proven extremely popular in the ante-post betting for this race, and if he can put in a clear round of jumping then could be capable of going very close. He won over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago, so has already shown he can deliver the goods at the track.
10. Spanish Harlem
(Willie Mullins/Brian Hayes) 11st
Eight defeats from eight races over fences certainly means Spanish Harlem will need a huge career best to land this prize, but trained by recent Aintree hero Mullins he can’t be discounted. He ran in this race last year and finished a decent sixth, and showed a decent effort last time out when fourth in the Punchestown Grand National Trial. He’s 4lbs lower than last season, so a mark of 136 could be workable for a horse that may not be the first to jump off the page when looking at the Mullins team.
11. Hasthing
(Jonjo O’Neill/Jonjo O’Neill Jnr) 10st 11lb
Another progressive novice chaser taking his chance here, Hasthing was another last season competing in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham Festival, but he was a faller at the last fence when out of contention. He recorded two decent wins at Windsor earlier in the season, while he was a solid fourth at Ascot two starts ago, but more will be needed again here for the JP McManus-owned challenger.
12. Rock My Way
(Joe Tizzard/Brendan Powell) 10st 11lb
Runner-up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month, Rock My Way is yet to finish out of the first four in all eight runs over fences. Joe Tizzard’s charge has only been given a 1lb rise by the handicapper for that fine run last month at Cheltenham, so he has to have a spectacular chance of downing the Irish contenders and he’s one of the major runners for the British charge.
13. Sail Away
(Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) 10st 10lb
A runaway 11-length winner of a novice handicap chase at this meeting last season, Sail Away has failed to get his head in front since that victory, but he’s been running some solid races in defeat. Narrowly beaten by The Doyen Chief on his last start at Warwick, the nine-year-old heads to Ayr in excellent form, but his lack of ability to get his head in front is a slight worry.
14. Wiseguy
(Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville) 10st 7lb
Seventh in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Wiseguy will be looking to build on that performance at the weekend. An impressive winner at Newbury back in November, Nicky Henderson’s charge has failed to kick on from that success, so while he’s been running solid races in decent company, this will need a career best to play a starring role in proceedings.
15. Flash De Touzaine
(Sean Flanagan/Liz Doyle) 10st 7lb
Sent off 40/1 for the 2023 Scottish Grand National, Flash De Touzaine outran his lofty odds when finishing a sparkling third. Liz Doyle’s ten-year-old was last seen claiming victory in a veterans contest at Limerick, so does head to Ayr in fine fettle, but while he’s handicapped to run a big race he could be one that struggles to live with some younger, improving rivals.
Scottish Grand National Trends – Scottish Racing Showpiece Analysed
The Scottish Grand National is analysed by the trends by Dave Young below. Willie Mullins took this race 12 months ago with the first 6yo winner since Earth Summit and with his title charge on again this will be another cracking renewal. I’ve looked at every runnings this century and compare to the last 10…
Tue 08 Apr 202516. Walking On Air
(Faye Bramley/Richie McLernon) 10st 6lb
A smart handicap hurdler for Nicky Henderson, who finished fifth in the 2023 Pertemps Final, Walking On Air has since switched to the yard of Faye Bramley and has found life tough in recent times. Well fancied for the Kim Muir last month, he could only finish 11th in that competitive contest, so will need to improve on that effort significantly to play any part here.
17 The Kniphand
(Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies) 10st 5lb
An exciting novice who has finished in the top three in six of his seven starts over fences, The Kniphand is looking to hand the Twiston-Davies family glory in Saturday’s contest. A runner-up in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster last time out, the Naunton inmate is certainly one of those lurking at the bottom of the handicap that could make the most of a featherweight and run a massive race at decent odds.
18. Grozni
(James Owen/Callum Pritchard) 10st 5lb
James Owen’s Grozni has finished sixth in the Kim Muir in both of the last two seasons, so it shows that he’s more than capable of featuring in a big field staying handicap chase, but he’s one that will need to knock in a huge career best to land this silverware. The nine-year-old has been mixing hurdles and fences this season and looks like one that could face an uphill task in such a competitive contest.
19. Dom Of Mary
(David Bridgwater/Caoilin Quinn) 10st 4lb
A winner of the Sussex National at Plumpton back in 2024, Dom Of Mary very nearly retained his crown back in February when denied into second place by Invincible Nao. Sent off 50/1 for the Kim Muir, he ran an excellent race for a long way before finishing eighth in that contest and will be available at big odds again here.
20. Snipe
(Dan Skelton/Harry Atkins) 10st 4lb
Adding more depth to Dan Skelton’s team for this race, as the British trainer looks to seal a first trainers’ championship, but Snipe will need to outdo himself to feature at the weekend. Third at Warwick on his last outing, the eight-year-old will benefit from having Harry Atkins taking 7lbs of his back, but it’s hard to see him going close in a tough event.
21. Klarc Kent
(Willie Mullins/Jonathan Burke) 10st 2lb
Sent off at 50/1 for this race last season, Klarc Kent ran a huge race when finishing fourth and he’s back for a second crack at the Scottish showpiece for Willie Mullins. Eighth in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month, he’s one that is relatively unfancied again this campaign, but a return to Ayr could bring out the best of him and could appeal to each-way backers.
22. Magna Sam
(Alastair Ralph/David Noonan) 10st 2lb
Fifth in the 2024 Scottish Grand National, Magna Sam is the oldest runner in this year’s race at 11 years old, but Alastair Ralph’s charge was last seen winning the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh, so has shown the fire still burns bright. A rampant nine-and-a-half length winner of that event, he’s a fascinating contender that certainly can’t be ignored, if he’s able to replicate that run.
23. Brandt
(Cian Collins/Sean Bowen) 10st 2lb
A two-and-three-quarter length winner of the Dublin National at Leopardstown last month, Brandt is another at the bottom of the weights that heads to Ayr with a win on his last start. He has the potential to kick on from that victory, but he’s 10lbs higher in this contest, so he’s going to need to improve immeasurably to challenge some classier, more proven rivals.
2025 Scottish Grand National Odds
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