There’s a hugely competitive day’s racing at Ayr on Saturday afternoon with the Scottish Grand National taking centre stage at 3.35pm. Here at GG, we take a look at the action north of the border and look to try and land the Tote Placepot by picking out six selections across the first six races.
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Leg 1: 1.15pm
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Pembroke
Sans Bruit will make a quick turnaround after winning impressively at Aintree last week and is the one to beat in the opening contest at 1.15pm, but it could be worth taking on the Paul Nicholls-trained raider with Dan Skelton’s PEMBROKE. Third in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase last time out, Pembroke is still open to improvement over fences and can land this prize now lining up in handicap company.
Leg 2: 1.50pm
Leg 2 Selections: (3) Inch House
Hugely progressive for Jonjo O’Neill this season, INCH HOUSE has been a real model of consistency throughout his career and is yet to finish out of the top four. He showed when winning twice at Newbury at the start of the season that he’s on the upgrade and he’s not been seen on the track since finishing fourth last time out. He returns after a two-month break here and a mark of 136 looks decent enough for him to make the frame.
Leg 3: 2.25pm
Leg 3 Selections: (2) First Street
Nicky Henderson’s FIRST STREET has been performing well in Graded company of late and was last seen finishing third to the top class Lossiemouth in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. Third behind Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle just highlights the calibre of rivals he has been facing and he certainly won’t face a rival of that quality here and is the selection.
Leg 4: 3.00pm
Leg 4 Selections: (1) Saylavee
Willie Mullins will launch a three-pronged attack on this competitive mares event at 3.00pm and the one to side with is the top-weighted SAYLAVEE. A Listed winner already in her career, she was last seen finishing second in the Grade 3 Quevega Mares’ Hurdle at Punchestown and a repeat of that run should see her play her part here and she’s the class element of the race.
Leg 5: 3.35pm
Leg 5 Selections: (1) Stay Away Fay
Paul Nicholls will saddle the top class performer STAY AWAY FAY in this year’s Scottish Grand National and the former Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner can defy top weight in the Ayr marathon event and add another big prize to his CV and duly give the Ditcheat team a boost in the UK Trainers’ Championship. A disappointing run last time out when pulling up in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham blotted his copybook, but he’s a really smart chaser and in handicap company could be hard to beat.
Leg 6: 4.10pm
Leg 6 Selections: (4) Welcom To Cartries
It could be a cracking end to the afternoon for the aforementioned Nicholls who can claim the 4.10pm prize with WELCOM TO CARTRIES, who looks an exciting novice hurdler. Second in the Grade 2 Royal Don Novices’ Hurdle last time out at Doncaster, the six-year-old hasn’t been seen since that run in January and now dropping into handicaps could feature prominently off a mark of 130.
Suggested Placepot Selections For Ayr On Scottish Grand National Day On Saturday 20th April
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Pembroke
Leg 2 Selections: (3) Inch House
Leg 3 Selections: (2) First Street
Leg 4 Selections: (1) Saylavee
Leg 5 Selections: (1) Stay Away Fay
Leg 6 Selections: (4) Welcom To Cartries
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