2026 Scottish Grand National Tips - Odds, trends and two selections

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 17 Apr 2026 16:17

Jon Vine 17 Apr 2026

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Here's our free guide to the 2026 Scottish Grand National
This historic handicap takes place at Ayr on Saturday 18th April
Kim Roque and Kap Vert are our best betting tips

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The Scottish Grand National. (Getty)

The biggest event in Scottish National Hunt racing takes place on Saturday, as a talented field of chasers takes part in the Scottish Grand National. First held in 1867, this gruelling four-mile chase was originally held at Bogside racecourse, but was moved to Ayr after Bogside closed in 1965.

Here are the latest odds and some key trends for the 2026 Scottish Grand National, plus two of our best ante-post tips.

2026 Scottish Grand National Odds

Name	Odds
King Of Answers	5/1
Kim Roque	6/1
Road To Home	7/1
J'Arrive De L'Est	8/1
Quebecois	8/1
Ask Brewster	10/1
Isaac Des Obeaux	10/1
Montregard	10/1
Bar	14/1

2026 Scottish Grand National Trends

17 of the last 18 winners had won on the ground
16 of the last 18 winners had won over 3m or further
16 of the last 18 winners had run after the 1st March
16 of the last 18 winners had between 4 and 6 starts that season
14 of the last 18 winners had won during that season
14 of the last 18 winners weighed 11-01 or less
14 of the last 18 winners were no older than nine-years-old
13 of the last 18 winners won or placed last time out
11 of the last 18 winners went off at 12/1 or longer

Captain Cody was very much a trendbuster when he won this 12 months ago. Willie Mullins' novice was still a maiden over fences, failed to complete on his previous start, and all of his hurdles victories had come over two-and-a-half miles on very soft ground.

That result proved that trends cannot be relied upon solely, but they can be a useful tool when trying to sift through a large field.

2026 Scottish Grand National Tip 1 - Kim Roque

I was all over KIM ROQUE (6/1) going into the Kim Muir, and fancied my chances when Joseph O'Brien's star was backed into 9/2 favouritism. I was then dismayed to see John Gleeson hold the favourite up out the back - considering nothing had won from off the pace all week - and Kim Roque could only stay on through beaten horses to finish a never-nearer fourth.

Kim Roque has a similar profile to last year's winner, Captain Cody. O'Brien's recruit did all of his winning in France on soft ground, and is yet to win over fences since joining Ronnie Bartlett. Kim Roque placed in two handicaps around Cheltenham, and ran well to finish fifth at the Dublin Racing Festival before that placed effort in the Kim Muir.

The British handicapper has dropped his mark by a pound for that effort down to 130, meaning Kim Roque will carry a lovely racing weight of 10-13 in Saturday's feature. Joseph O'Brien has proved again this season that he's excellent at targeting races with his top jumpers. The conditions of this handicap should be ideal for this improving young chaser.

2026 Scottish Grand National Tip 2 - Kap Vert

The Scottish Grand National has become a good race for the younger generation of stayers, with few old timers getting involved in recent years. With that in mind, I'm happy to back the other six-year-old in Saturday's line-up, KAP VERT (25/1).

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's charge took to chasing immediately when pointed at a fence for the first time at Taunton in December. Kap Vert jumped well throughout, before striding seven lengths clear of some handy rivals on the run to the line.

Sean Houlihan's mount ran well when third on his first start over three miles at Kempton's Christmas Festival, and kept on well from the rear to finish fourth behind The Jukebox Kid and Montregard at Ascot. Following a short break, Kap Vert overcame some serious trouble in-running to claim his second victory around Taunton at the start of March.

Good ground clearly suits this strong-staying novice, who wasn't as effective on slower conditions at Ascot in January. Kap Vert hasn't done much racing going left-handed, but I can't see why it will pose him too many problems. This youngster is a real danger to the more fancied runners off this workable mark of 129.

Live Stream

Visit our Scottish Grand National Live Stream page if you want to watch any race from Ayr via a mobile or tablet.

Verdict

2026 Scottish Grand National

Kim Roque and Kap Vert are our two against the field for the 2026 Scottish Grand National.

Kim Roque

2026 Scottish Grand National

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Kap Vert E/W

2026 Scottish Grand National

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