Scottish Grand National Field Confirmed with King of Answers as Favourite
The Scottish Grand National is set to return to Ayr this weekend, one week after the Grand National at Aintree, with the field now officially confirmed for Saturday's prestigious jumping event. King of Answers, trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, heads the market as the 5/1 favourite with bet365 for the £200,000 race.
Willie Mullins' Surprising Entry Strategy
Willie Mullins, who trained the Aintree winner and has claimed the Scottish Grand National for the past two years with Macdermott and Captain Cody, has raised eyebrows by entering just one challenger. Mullins saddles only Road to Rome, priced at 7/1, as he looks to build on his success with I Am Maximus. Meanwhile, UK champion-trainer elect Dan Skelton has no representative in the four-mile stamina test.
Blaze The Way, trained in Ireland by Mags Mullins, carries top weight after 25 confirmations were lodged for the race on Monday. Russell, who landed the prize five years ago when Mighty Thunder stormed to victory, could see King of Answers deliver a similar result. The seven-year-old produced a brilliant display at the Cheltenham Festival last month, finishing runner-up to Holloway Queen in the National Hunt Chase.
Notable Contenders and Withdrawals
Other notable contenders still in the mix include Joseph O'Brien's Kim Roque at 6/1 and Quebecois at 8/1, both of whom also secured places at Cheltenham. Montregard, priced at 10/1, is poised to bid for a famous double for owner JP McManus following I Am Maximus's triumph.
After their appearance in Liverpool, several horses were pulled from the Ayr race at the five-day declaration stage, including Banbridge, Johnnywho, Mr Vango, Jordans, Top Of The Bill, and Twig. Konfusion ran on the same programme, and Search For Glory took part in this month's Irish Grand National.
Final Line-Up and Supporting Races
The final line-up for the Scottish Grand National will be announced on Thursday morning, with some remaining declarations possible before Friday's two-day meeting begins. While Skelton has no runner in the headline event, he sends out favourite Tellherthename, priced at 7/2 with bet365, in the £100,000 Scottish Champion Hurdle. Nicky Henderson's Khrisma is second favourite at 5/1, with 34 still entered at this stage for the two-mile hurdle highlight.
Confirmed List of Coral Scottish Grand National Runners
- Blaze The Way, Mags Mullins, 12/1
- Quebecois, Paul Nicholls, 8/1
- King Of Answers, Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, 5/1
- Isaac Des Obeaux, Paul Nicholls, 10/1
- Our Power, Sam Thomas, 20/1
- Road To Home, Willie Mullins, 7/1
- Guard The Moon, Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, 25/1
- Herakles Westwood, Warren Greatrex, 20/1
- Ask Brewster, Cath Williams, 10/1
- Duffle Coat, Gordon Elliott, 25/1
- Katate Dori, Sam Thomas, 14/1
- Stolen Silver, Georgina Nicholls, 66/1
- Famous Bridge, Nicky Richards, 33/1
- Montregard, Tom Lacey, 10/1
- Maximilian, Donald McCain, 25/1
- Gabbys Cross, Nick Scholfield, 25/1
- Kim Roque, Joseph O'Brien, 6/1
- Collectors Item, Jonjo and AJ O'Neill, 33/1
- Git Maker, Jamie Snowden, 14/1
- Kap Vert, Philip Hobbs and Johnson White
- Val Dancer, Mel Rowley, 25/1
- Promontory, Sarah Connell, 20/1
- Chasingouttheblues, Mark Walford, 14/1
- J'Arrive De L'Est, Emmet Mullins, 8/1
- Magna Sam, Alastair Ralph, 50/1
All odds are from bet365 and correct at the time of writing.
