The Scottish Grand National is back again this weekend and, coming a week ahead of the Aintree Grand National this year, it is sure to be a belter.
Ayr racecourse’s showpiece event is the major staying chase of the Scottish racing season and was won last year by Mighty Thunder who is trained at Lucinda Russells’ Kinross base.
The home contingent landed a 1-2-4-5 in the race last year with Kelso trainer Sandy Thomson sending Dingo Dollar to finish second and The Ferry Master to finish fourth. Dumfries handler Iain Jardine trained Cool Mix to be fifth.
The race is run over almost four miles, with 27 jumps and several open ditches and is one of the toughest tests for horse and jockey in UK racing.
So, when does the action start, who should your money be on and where can you watch it?
Here's a list of everything you need to know...
When is the race?
The overall Grand National meeting kicks-off on Friday, April 1st, at Ayr Racecourse but the main event, the Scottish Grand National will take place on Saturday, April 2nd. The race this year is worth £84,405 to the winner, with prize money all the way down to sixth place.
What time is it on?
The race is off at 3.35pm on Saturday. The Class 1, Grade 3 chase will feature a field of up to 30 runners and is one of punters' most bet on races with it boasting the fourth-biggest betting turnover in the UK.
Most of the top stables in the UK will fire a dart in this race - though the only horse to win this race and the Aintree Grand National in the same season was Red Rum in 1974, and the last horse to win both races during their career was Earth Summit who won the Grand National in 1998 after winning at Ayr in 1994.
The last horse to win this race in back-to-back years was Vicente in 2015-16. Mighty Thunder will not attempt to do the double this year as he is instead being aimed at the Aintree Grand National the following Saturday.
Where can I watch it?
Coverage starts on ITV4 at 1.00pm with the big race on at 3.35pm.
Who is the favourite?
Trainer Christian Williams has both of the two most fancied runners including favourite Kitty’s Light, who finished second in a hot handicap chase at Kempton recently and is now the clear punters’ choice at 4/1 for this race.
Williams also trains Win My Wings won the Eider Chase - a four mile chase run at Newcastle which forms one of the key trials for this race - with ease just over a month ago. He is 7/1 second favourite currently.
The best backed Scottish runner is last year’s fourth The Ferry Master, who is currently around 10/1.
Who else is tipped?
Look out for big gambles The Wolf for Olly Murphy who was backed into 10/1 from 20/1 earlier in the week and Nigel Twiston-Davies very smart novice chaser Fantastikas who has also been gambled into 14/1 from 25/1 last week.
Other big Scottish fancies include dashing grey Cool Mix - last year’s fifth - who is around 14/1 and also Hill Sixteen (20/1) who placed around the big Aintree fences earlier in the season. Strong Economy is a 50/1 shot for Ian Duncan who had a third in the race in 2005 with Cheltenham Festival winner Another Rum.
Iain Ferguson fancies 33/1 shot One More Fleurie, while our tipster Garry Owen's tips for the whole meeting will be up over the coming days.
Prices taken from Betfred.
