The Coral Scottish Grand National is set to take place on Saturday, with Blaze The Way emerging as the new topweight after 25 horses were confirmed for the race at Ayr. This eight-year-old, trained by Mags Mullins, ascended to the top of the handicap list following the withdrawal of the leading contenders who had recently participated in the Aintree Grand National.
Top Contenders for the Scottish Grand National
Among those scratched from the race were King Of Answers, a favored entry trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore. Initially regarded as a strong contender, King Of Answers finished second in the National Hunt Chase at the recent Cheltenham Festival, boosting his profile ahead of Ayr. Other notables such as Kim Roque, Quebecois, and Ask Brewster were also expected to participate.
Recent National Performances
Noteworthy absentees include Banbridge, who was originally anticipated to top the weights but was not confirmed after competing in the Grand National. Several other horses like Johnnywho, Mr Vango, and Twig also opted out after running at Aintree or in the recent Irish Grand National.
Potential Winners and Their Backgrounds
Notable entries still confirmed for the Scottish Grand National include:
- Blaze The Way – Mags Mullins
- Quebecois – Paul Nicholls
- King Of Answers – Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore
- Isaac Des Obeaux – Paul Nicholls
- Our Power – Sam Thomas
- Road To Home – Willie Mullins
- Guard The Moon – Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
- Montregard – Tom Lacey
Montregard’s participation is particularly significant as he aims to secure a prestigious double for owner JP McManus, following the recent success of I Am Maximus in the Grand National. Meanwhile, Willie Mullins, typically a dominant presence at Ayr, plans to contend solely with Road To Home, as the British trainers’ title appears out of reach this season.
The Scottish Grand National boasts a prize fund of £200,000, highlighting its importance within the racing calendar. The event is highly anticipated, particularly after the thrilling performances displayed at Aintree last weekend.
