The Scottish Grand National takes centre stage on Saturday just one week on from the Aintree equivalent. With the market very open, and with plenty of Irish runners adding intrigue, we analyse the main favourites for the race.
GIT MAKER
Ironically, the jockey bookings within the Willie Mullins trained contingent have conspired to see them lose favouritism at best prices for the race. That honour now belongs to Git Maker for Jamie Snowden, though he was already vying for a prominent place in the market already.
His eight-year-old racked up a hat-trick of successes in 2023, with his only calendar defeat that year coming when only sixth at Ascot. However, that was on a flat track on good ground, which would not have suited him and he bounced back to his best to be a clear second in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival.
Only the easiest winner of the meeting, Inothewayurthinkin, got in his way, and that horse has since gone on to win a Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree. Git Maker was 18 lengths clear of the third at Cheltenham and received just a 1lb rise for his troubles. This will be just as competitive, and he has to prove he stays this far, but so do most in this line-up.
MACDERMOTT
Having been the headline act within Mullins’ six-strong battalion, Macdermott has drifted out to a bigger price than Git Maker in a place, primarily due to how his trainer has placed his jockeys. Paul Townend would have been expected to take the mount, but he rides another of their contingent (more on that in a moment), with Danny Mullins aboard this six-year-old.
How much can be read into this is what most fans will ask. The market has certainly seen a shift against Macdermott’s favour, yet it was Danny who was aboard when he won rampantly at Fairyhouse last time, with Townend’s only ride on him to date resulting in a runner-up effort over 2m in which the in-running comments speak of him “not jumping well”.
Mullins is an incredibly capable jockey in his own right and his mount here looks like he may have improved for the realisation of stamina. His easy 12-length handicap success in Ireland last time was his first run beyond 3m and 4m may even suit that little bit more. He still has a terrific chance.
SPANISH HARLEM
Unconsidered in the market before Thursday’s jockey bookings announcement, Spanish Harlem was nevertheless recommended as an each-way play in our Scottish Grand National preview. That was when he was available at a best price of 25/1; he is now at a high of 9/1 following news that Paul Townend would take the ride.
The case for Spanish Harlem rested on him finding a new lease of life over stamina sapping trips and there had been enough evidence within his novice chase runs this season that 3m+ may well be where his future lay. However, he is extremely unexposed, only having run three times over fences, all at 2m4f.
In each of those races he has finished third, although there had been gradual improvement in each of those. The middle of those runs, when third to stablemate Tactical Move, strongly suggested he could go up in trip and the implied faith of his trainer and jockey gives him a real chance.
ANGLERS CRAG
The main hope for the north and Scotland is Brian Ellison’s Anglers Crag, who has gone on a sumptuous run of form since joining the Yorkshire yard. A record of four races and four wins speaks for itself.
Analysing those more minutely, all four have come at 2m7f and beyond, but each has shown him improve each time. Narrow successes over 3m2f and 3m at Carlisle and Market Rasen were trumped emphatically by an 11-length success at Musselburgh, setting him up for a tilt at the four-timer in the Eider Chase at Newcastle.
That race proved attritional on heavy over 4m1½f, but he ground his way to victory after nearly losing it with a mistake at the second last. A further 8lb rise will have to be contended with, but that has got him into the handicap for this race in the first place and a racing weight of 10st 4lb will be the lowest he has ever carried in competition.
Scottish Grand National Runners Guide: A Pinstickers’ Guide To All 26 Runners For Ayr Marathon
We now know the 2024 Coral Scottish Grand National Runners, so here at GG we take a look at all 26 runners lining up for the marathon event run at Ayr racecourse on Saturday 20th April. Check out our Pinstickers’ Guide for the showpiece race north of the border here… 1. Stay Away Fay (Paul…
Thu 18 Apr 2024
