Grand Nationals - they're a bit like London buses; you don't see one for an age and then three come along all at once. Tomorrow's Scottish Grand National is the third to be run in under a fortnight - 25 will face the starter at 3.25 to set off on a journey of four miles 110 yards.
Those who prefer to make up their own mind may wamt to refer to this Twitter Guide to the Scottish Grand National, comments provided by Coral's Tim Smith.
Otherwise, here's a view...
Junior, a faller at the second at Aintree, is allowed to take his chance and appears to have a stiff task conceding a minimum of nine pounds to the rest of the field; the bottom ten all race out of the handicap. Only one winner has carried more than 10-9 to victory in the past decade - Grey Abbey in 2004 - while four winners have carried the 10-0 (not including riders' allowances) - Joes Edge 2005, Hot Weld 2007, Iris De Baume 2008, and last year's winner Merigo who is rated seven pounds higher this year.
Paul Nicholls' Harry The Viking ran well to be beaten just two lengths over the four mile trip of the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham; R. Walsh takes over from Mr W. Biddick in the plate and Harry is likely to start favourite.
Of those near the head of the market, Portrait King catches the eye. He comes into this on the back of a win in the Eider, having won the Punchestown Grand National Trial on his penultimate start. He's been given a break since and should go well - bet365 offer 9/1 this evening. Quentin Collonges looks unexposed but Knockara Beau's sixth in the Gold Cup reads well and rates the each-way wager at around the 12/1 mark.
Friday, April 20, 2012
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Lockerbie-trained Merigo (15/2) won the Scottish National for a second time, beating Auroras Encore (25/1) a head on the line.
Portrait King (10/1) was easy to back beforehand. He raced mid-division but struggled to keep tabs on the leaders as they set out on the final circuit. He held seventh spot coming into the home straight but faded to finish tenth. Slightly disappointing - perhaps he would have been better suited by soft ground?
Knockara Beau (11/1) was one of a number of fancied runners who didn't run their race, losing his position after a circuit and never travelling with any fluency thereafter, being pulled up before the 21st.
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