Saint Calvados heads a powerful Paul Nicholls team heading to Ayr for day one of the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.
The UK champion trainer - fresh off a success at Aintree - will be represented in six of the seven Friday races with his 10-year-old going in as a top weight for the feature £50,000 Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase. Nicholls’ charge will face seven rivals in the two-and-a-half mile event with Sandy Thomson sending Bass Rock and Nick Alexander choosing Dubai Days to contest the Class 2 event for the home team.
Sabrina is the Ditcheat choice for the £30,000 Coral Racing Club Seafield Trophy Mares Handicap Hurdle over three miles. Hugos New Horse faces four rivals including Nicky Henderson’s talented Persian Times in the Class 3 Quiz Clothing Novices Hurdle. Nicholls is also represented by Afadil in the opener, Twin Power, who will be ridden by Adrian Heskin, and Milan Bridge in the concluding contest.
Skelton is saddling five on day one with Get A Tonic amongst the team trying to repeat her success in the Seafield Trophy 12 months ago.
Traprain Law and Aurora Thunder run for Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell, who also has One Mill Harbour readied for the two-mile Seko Logistics Scotland Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
