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Scottish Grand National

Friday 21 April & Saturday 22 April 2006

The Scottish Grand National

The Scottish Grand National is the most prestigious, and on recent performance, the most exciting jumps race north of the border, providing the opportunity to see Scotland's top chasers taking on the best from stables in England, Ireland and elsewhere. Each year the race sees top quality horses from all over the country, and attracts all those who enjoy gambling on horse racing, as well as countless others who only bet on ‘special' horse races.

History of The Scottish Grand National

The Scottish Grand National began over 125 years ago and has been held at Ayr since the Bogside track near Irvine closed in 1966. The race provides plenty of thrills and, in spite of the course length of 4 miles 1 furlong, there are many close finishes. Take Control won by half a length in 2002 and Ryalux pulled it off by a head a year later.

But surely the most spectacular finish was in 2005, when 20/1 shot Joe's Edge ridden by Keith Mercer jumped the final fence in the lead but was then headed on the run in by Ruby Walsh on Cornish Rebel before getting back in front and snatching the £70,000 prize. .

The 17,000 crowd were rooting for Walsh but he just failed to pull it off. If he had done, he would have been the first jockey ever to win all four Grand Nationals - the Welsh, the Irish, Aintree and the Scottish Grand Nationals - in the same year, a cruel disappointment which Ruby Walsh accepted with amazing calm.

Third place, ten lengths behind, went to Another Rum at 10/1, and coming in fourth was Double Honour at 20/1, who had been leading the field at the beginning of the home straight. This was probably one of the most thrilling races in the history of the Scottish National and was a race that demonstrated very clearly that over the jumps there are no certainties until the finishing post.

Going back to 1974, no one who saw it will ever forget the Scottish Grand National when the great Red Rum won the race, having taken first place at the Aintree Grand National a few weeks earlier – a record not yet beaten.

Scottish Grand National winners since 2001

Horse Trainer Jockey

2001 Gingembre Lavinia Taylor Andrew Thornton

2002 Take Control Martin Pipe Ruby Walsh

2003 Ryalux Andy Crook Richard McGrath

2004 Grey Abbey Howard Johnson Graham Lee

2005 Joes Edge Ferdy Murphy Keith Mercer

Studying the Form at the Scottish Grand National

The ground at Ayr is generally flat. It drains well and, coupled with the race's late date in the Racing Calendar, tends to increase the chances of firm ground. So it is no surprise to find that in terms of weight, four of the last nine winners have carried over 11 stone, yet during the same period only 10% of the runners have been over that weight. Carrying weight is a lot easier here than it is on heavy, undulating ground earlier in the season.

Coming so soon after the Aintree National it is easy to think that success there is a guide to performance at the Scottish Grand National, but in fact it isn't. In the last ten years 33 horses have run in both events but none have won and only three have made a place. Interestingly, all three failed to finish at Aintree, allowing them an easier race at Ayr than the finishers.

A more useful guide is provided by the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, held a month before the Scottish National, which gives the horses more time to recover. Young Kenny won both races in 1999 (carrying 11 stone 10 lb at Ayr) and the following year Paris Pike triumphed at Ayr (carrying 11 stone) after winning a race at the Midlands Grand National meeting.

Another point to note is that, apart from the 2005 victory for Joe's Edge, nine of the last ten winners at the Scottish Grand National have at least been placed in a Class A race.

There doesn't seem to be an advantage for any particular age group, but novices have tended to do very well. Although it was more than ten years ago, Nigel Twiston-Davies had two novice winners, Captain Dibble and Earth Summit, and also a second placed novice, Sweet Duke. Ferdy Murphy's Joe's Edge snatched victory last year and his Paris Pike won in 2000. Paul Nicholls' Cornish Rebel, just pipped last year, was also a first season chaser.

The 2006 Scottish Grand National Event

The two day Scottish Grand National meeting will be held on the 21^st and 22^nd of April at Ayr and the supporting card includes the Scottish Champion Hurdle and the Ashleybank Future Champion Novices' Chase.

The Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle run over two miles is the main supporting race. Like the Scottish National, the race has risen in stature and frequently provides dramatic competition between established hurdlers and some of the promising young novices.

The 2006 event looks set again to offer exciting clashes across the card. Joe's Edge and Cornish Rebel will be there with many of the top chasers, all fighting it out to show their mettle at this increasingly prestigious event.

Betting on Horse Racing Events – Further Information

The Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National Meeting is just one of many events in the horseracing calendar. Check out the other forthcoming events!

If you want to bet on the Scottish Grand National, or any of the other races taking place, and want tips on how to bet, visit the Horse Racing – How to Bet section.

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