The Scottish Grand National, a top event in National Hunt racing, features talented chasers. The current favourite is Macdermott, who is likely to be ridden by jockey Paul Townend. The key trends indicate that past winners had good performances on good ground and during the season. The last 16 winners weighed 11-01 or less with odds of 12/1 or longer. Top riders include Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Our betting tips recommend Autonomous Cloud and Ballygriffincottage as potential winners.
This historic handicap takes place at Ayr on Saturday 20th April
Autonomous Cloud and Ballygriffincottage are our best betting tips
Expired
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 grueling 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 Scottish Grand National, plus two of our best ante-post tips.
2024 Scottish Grand National Odds
Name
Odds
Macdermott
6/1
Angler's Crag
8/1
Mr Incredible
8/1
Git Maker
11/1
Stay Away Fay
12/1
Bar
14/1
2024 Scottish Grand National Trends
16 of the last 16 winners had won on good ground
15 of the last 16 winners had won over 3m or further
14 of the last 16 winners had run after the 1st March
14 of the last 16 winners had between 4 and 6 starts that season
13 of the last 16 winners were eight years old or older
13 of the last 16 winners had won during that season
13 of the last 16 winners weighed 11-01 or less
12 of the last 16 winners won or placed last time out
10 of the last 16 winners went off at 12/1 or longer
As the final trend illustrates, we have seen plenty of upsets in the Scottish National. The last three winners, however, have returned SPs of 8/1, 13/2 and 4/1, so punters have given the bookies a bashing in recent years.
Much will depend on which horses Willie Mullins confirms for Ayr, and if Paul Townend travels over for the meeting. Whoever Townend rides will almost certainly go off as the favourite and Macdermott looks the most likely candidate, presuming Townend can get down to 10-7.
Patrick Mullins looks set to partner the quirky Mr Incredible, but Patrick's record in races that aren't bumpers is fairly poor. Mr Incredible will be getting five pounds from top-weight Stay Away Fay, who was handed a rating of 158 after finishing third in a fairly average renewal of the Cotswold Chase. That mark looks far too stiff to me.
2024 Scottish Grand National Tip 1 - Autonomous Cloud
The form of this year's Midlands Grand National will be well advertised on Saturday, with the first three home at Uttoxeter, Beauport, Mr Incredible and My Silver Lining prominent in the market. Fourth that day was AUTONOMOUS CLOUD (20/1), who didn't jump as fluently as he could and faded a little in the first furlong that that four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon.
Fergal O'Brien's eight-year-old went into that handicap after an enforced absence, having bled when pulled up in the Welsh National at Chepstow. Autonomous Cloud was wearing a tongue-tie for the first time that day too, so he can be forgiven for producing a slightly underwhelming performance.
That pulled-up effort at Chepstow remains the only time Autonomous Cloud has finished outside of the money over fences. O'Brien's star remains on the same mark and all of his best form has come on testing ground around left-handed tracks. Conditions on Saturday should suit him perfectly and Autonomous Cloud only has to carry 10-4.
Ballygriffincottage (left) finishing second at Sandown in March. (Getty)
2024 Scottish Grand National Tip 2 - Ballygriffincottage
With Sail Away declared to run at Cheltenham during the week, Dan Skelton's hopes of winning a first Scottish National lie in the hands of BALLYGRIFFINCOTTAGE (25/1). Skelton's nine-year-old looked like a chasing going places when thrashing Beauport on his debut over the larger fences, but the wheels quickly came off.
A run of three pulled-up efforts and a 34-length defeat saw Ballygriffingcottage drop down to a career-low rating of 135. There were shades of a revival when Skelton's nine-year-old finished a close fifth at Ascot in February and Ballygriffincottage built on that outing with a narrow defeat at Sandown last time out, where he was giving the winner, Rose Of Arcadia nine pounds at the weights.
The handicapper pushed Ballygriffincottage back up to 138 for that outing, but that mark is still seven pounds short of the ceiling he reached as a novice. This hardy stayer wants a strong test of stamina, and if he's improved again since that second at Sandown, then Harry Skelton's mount has to be a big player with just 10-8 on his back.
Verdict
Autonomous Cloud and Ballygriffincottage are our two against the field for the 2024 Scottish Grand National.
2023 Scottish Grand National Tip: Autonomous Cloud 2024 Scottish Grand National @20/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
2023 Scottish Grand National Tip: Ballygriffincottage 2024 Scottish Grand National @25/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
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