Scottish Grand National Form Guide
The Scottish Grand National is here and there is a top class field of 30 runners set to go in the big race at Ayr. All the talk is surrounding Chicago Grey who is being well backed after a win at the Cheltenham Festival and we have been examining his and others chances of success at Ayr.
We have been assessing the latest betting for the race and have picked out a few horses who are set to go well in the race, we have analyzed the form to help punters make their bet for the race.
Form Pointers
- No horse over the age of ten has won the Scottish Grand National since 1996. The majority of winners fit into the eight to ten years of age.
- Irish trained horses have done well here and Ferdy Murphy has won three of the last Eleven renewals.
- Unless you receive a really good tip to the contrary, avoid horses carrying 11stone or less
- Nine out of the last eleven winners had ran well in their previous race.
- Ten out of the last eleven winners have won over 3m
- Only one favourite has won in the last Eleven years.
2011 Scottish National Form Horses
There are a number of horses in with real chances of winning the Scottish Grand National with all the top trainers bringing some of their best horses to Ayr in the search for success.
Chicago Grey
The Gordon Elliott is a highly progressive chaser and comes into the race as the one to beat following his National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The odds suggest he could run a big race and connections are expecting that he will relish the extra trip on offer as he did at Cheltenham. If he does enjoy the trip then he will be tough to beat and carrying under 11st Chicago Grey looks a real danger, the only negative will be about his ability to bounce back less than a month after his Festival success.
Latest Chicago Grey Scottish Grand National 2011 Odds
Beshabar
The Tim Vaughan horse is a top class type on his day and he showed that last month when he was second to Chicago Grey in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Connections are hoping he wants the extra trip once again and he will go off five pounds lighter than Chicago Grey as he bids to reverse the form, and he cannot be ruled out on his best form. He is a big strong horse which looks ideal for the Scottish National and he has considered for the race for the some time now making him an intriguing prospect.
Latest Beshabar Scottish Grand National 2011 Odds
Neptune Collonges
At his best, Neptune Collonges was good enough to finish third in a Gold Cup and while h is perhaps not in that class at the moment he is still a top class chaser for Paul Nicholls. The grey horse bounced back to somewhere near his best in January when he won the Argento Chase at Cheltenham, it was a terrific front running performance and that has earned him top weight for the Scottish National. He ran eighth last time in the Gold cup and we know on his best day he could be one to watch at Ayr, he faces a tough task off of top weight though and no form over 4 miles.
Neptune Collonges Scottish Grand National Odds
The Minack
The Minack looks like the first string from the Paul Nicholls yard in the Scottish National field with just 10st 1lbs on his back for the Ayr race. We last saw him finish third at Ascot in February over 3 miles when he came up against a couple of horses too good. The key factor here is the booking of Ruby Walsh who clearly feels The Minack has a nice chance in the race and he looks to be very well handicapped and has to go close despite the fact that Novices do not have a great record in the Scottish National.
The Minack Scottish Grand National Odds 2011
Always Right
Always right is an interesting runner for John Wade, he looks nicely handicapped having won two races recently and as long as the ground doesn't dry up too much he could be one for the shortlist. He won the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster at the start of last month over 3m 2f so we know he stays well and jumps solid making him a lively contender. He fits the profile in terms of age and weight so Always Right looks to be a genuine threat.
