Importance Score: 25 / 100 🔵
Scottish Grand National Meeting Set to Decide National Hunt Trainers’ Championship
For the third time in nine seasons, the Scottish Grand National race card at Ayr this Saturday may prove pivotal in the contest for the National Hunt trainers’ championship. Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton, with 18 and 10 entries respectively, are renewing their rivalry from the previous year as they vie for the coveted title.
Mullins Seeks to Retain Title Amidst Skelton Challenge
In 2024, Mullins made history as the first Irish trainer in 70 years to secure the championship. His success was fueled by a dominant performance during the major spring festivals in March and April, enabling him to overtake Skelton, who had maintained a commanding lead for the preceding ten months of the season.
High Stakes at Ayr Following Grand National Success
Mullins has been the favourite to retain his title since Nick Rockett, ridden by his son Patrick, spearheaded a Mullins 1-2-3 finish in last Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree. The stable amassed nearly £850,000 of the £1 million prize fund in the season’s most valuable race.
However, unlike in 2024 when Mullins held a slender advantage entering Ayr, he started Friday’s racing over £100,000 behind Skelton. He cannot afford to lose ground in the significant races remaining between now and the season’s conclusion at Sandown on April 25th.
Betting Odds Favor Mullins in Scottish Grand National
Bookmakers suggest Mullins has an even chance of winning Saturday’s feature race with one of his six entries, including leading contenders Chosen Witness, Captain Cody, and Olympic Man. Skelton, in contrast, pins his hopes on Sail Away and Snipe, priced at 16-1 and 40-1 respectively, to secure the £112,000 top prize.
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Scottish Champion Hurdle and Other Races
Elsewhere on the Ayr card, Mullins will also saddle Ethical Diamond, the marginal favourite for the Scottish Champion Hurdle, offering a £56,000 winner’s purse. He has a prominent contender in nearly every race on the program.
The Kniphand: A Potential Spoiler
Amidst the intense focus on the trainers’ title battle, the depth of the feature event should not be overlooked. The Kniphand (3.35), could emerge as a formidable obstacle to Mullins’s aspirations.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’s gelding has demonstrated consistent progress in his second steeplechasing season, achieving a career-best performance as runner-up in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster recently. That race was over three and a quarter miles, and indications suggest that the extended distance of Saturday’s race will unlock further improvement.
Saturday’s Racing Tips
Ayr Race Tips
- 1.10 Traprain Law
- 1.43 Loughglynn
- 2.15 Kihavah
- 2.55 Rockola Vogue
- 3.35 The Kniphand (nap)
- 4.10 Histrionic
- 4.45 Chart Topper
- 5.20 Dysart Dolomite
Newbury Race Tips
- 1.25 Sunway
- 2.00 Simmering
- 2.35 Jonquil
- 3.12 Metal Merchant (nb)
- 3.45 Crown Of Oaks
- 4.19 Ivatt
- 4.54 Westridge
Bangor-On-Dee Race Tips
- 1.35 Sign Again
- 2.08 Bridget Mary
- 2.45 Gwennie May Star
- 3.20 King Ulanda
- 3.59 Too Cool Forshrule
- 4.34 Serious Chat
- 5.09 Portetta
Brighton Race Tips
- 3.49 Cables Queen
- 4.24 Alkuwarrior
- 4.59 Bear To Dream
- 5.30 Hamlet’s Night
- 6.00 Formal Address
- 6.30 Blenheim Star
- 7.00 Mudlahhim
- 7.30 Hellavapace
Thirsk Race Tips
- 3.55 Filly Foden
- 4.30 Illuminator
- 5.05 Paborus
- 5.40 Alzahir
- 6.10 Arrange
- 6.40 Musical Touch
- 7.10 Rock Of England
- 7.40 Athollblair Boy
Nottingham Race Tips
- 4.05 Betweenthesticks
- 4.40 Mr Cool
- 5.15 Toby Tops
- 5.50 Archivist
- 6.20 Time Tells All
- 6.50 Hock Eye The Noo
- 7.20 Fifty Sent
Race Selections Analysis
Ayr 2.55: Rockola Vogue
Rockola Vogue overcame in-race difficulties to achieve a narrow victory at Musselburgh last time and competes here off the same handicap mark.
Newbury 3.12: Metal Merchant
Metal Merchant, last year’s victor, subsequently performed well in several major handicaps throughout the season and has a clear opportunity for repeat success despite a 6lb higher mark.