Leading Jockeys for the Scottish Grand National

There are a number of leading jockeys who have good pedigree in the Scottish Grand National. The three listed below will feature prominently in the Scottish Grand national odds and the three are all likely to be riding horses, hopefully with good Scottish Grand National odds, that have come to Ayr racecourse to win the race.

Tony McCoy needs little introduction. He has been champion jockey for the last 13 years in the UK and there is no other jockey riding that has put so much into his career. Tony won the Scottish Grand National back in 1997 on Belmont King, at that time he was riding, somewhat ironically for the then up and coming trainer, Paul Nicholls. We all know now that Tony’s great friend and main rival, Ruby Walsh is now stable jockey for Nicholls and the two have become the number one riding/trainer partnership in National Hunt racing. Tony however can always guarantee himself a good mount in a race such as this and no doubt he will be among the contenders once again.

Ruby Walsh is the only jockey currently riding who has won all four Grand Nationals, won this race in 2002 when riding Take Control for the Martin pipe stable. Since then Ruby has teamed up with top trainer Paul Nicholls and the two are forging an incredibly successful partnership. Ruby almost came close to winning this race in 2005, but his mount, Cornish Rebel, failed by the shortest of heads to stave off the challenge from the Ferdy Murphy trained, Joes Edge. Had Ruby won that day he would have been the first jockey to have won all four Grand Nationals in one year. He will miss the race in 2010 with a broken arm that he suffered at the Aintree Meeting last weekend.

Graham Lee is the stable jockey to the three time winning Scottish Grand National trainer, Ferdy Murphy and is clearly one of the best jockeys around. He won the Scottish Grand National in 2004 on Grey Abbey for his previous trainer, Howard Johnson. In 2006 Graham became only the second jockey in the last ten years to find himself in second position in the jockey’s championship behind Tony McCoy. Speculation was rife that season that Graham could have ousted McCoy from the top spot; however a serious injury ruled him out and he still awaits his chance. His connection with Murphy should be closely watched by those taking advantage on the Scottish Grand National Free bet offers, the two could well be a formidable partnership this year. Graham also won the Aintree Grand National on Amberleigh House also in 2004 and looks set to take the ride on Poker De Sivola on Saturday.