2021 Scottish Grand National: Runners & Riders Confirmed for Ayr feature race
2021 Scottish Grand National
3:35pm, Sunday 18th April 2021. Grade 3, 4m, 5yo+
A nine-strong home challenge for the 2021 Scottish Grand National will be spearheaded by Mighty Thunder, Dingo Dollar and 5/1 favourite Aye Right on Sunday afternoon. The only Scottish-trained winner of this race in the past 39 years has been Merigo who scored in 2010 and again in 2012, however Aye Right and joint-second-favourite Dingo Dollar lead the betting as we head closer to the £150,000 Grade 3 Handicap Chase.
The whole card for Scottish Grand National Day has been moved back 24 hours in order to avoid clashing with the televised funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Scottish Grand National will be shown live on ITV and the whole Ayr meeting will be covered by RacingTV.
Key Contenders
Aye Right – 5/1F
Trained by Harriet Graham who doubles as clerk of the course at Hamilton Racecourse, Aye Right has two from two over hurdles at this venue and boasts some solid form this season including a third place to Cyrname in the Charlie Hall, a second to Cloth Cap in the Ladbrokes Trophy and a third in the Cheltenham Festival Ultima Chase.
Dingo Dollar – 17/2
The mount of champion jockey Brian Hughes, Dingo Dollar was second in the Scottish Grand National meeting of 2018 and his winning debut for the Sandy Thomson stable came at Newcastle in his last outing. Thomson also has The Ferry Master (11/1) in this race.
Mighty Thunder – 11/1
Mighty Thunder won the Edinburgh National and he will be ridden by Tom Scudamore who replaces the injured Blair Campbell in this race. This runner is one of two in the Scottish Grand National for handler Lucinda Russell, her other being Big River who will be ridden by Derek Fox.
OUR PICK
Sam’s Adventure – 9/1
Brian Ellison-trained Sam’s Adventure is another genuine contender for what promises to be a very open contest this weekend, the 9-year-old bred by four-time champion jockey Richard Johnson. Winner of the Eider Chase at Newcastle last time out, 9/1 represents excellent value for a horse which has everything going for him right now.
