Scottish Grand National Tips: Two for Saturday’s big race

A field of 26 - read our runner-by-runner guide here - are set to contest the lucrative Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday (15:35).

Exactly a week after tipping I Am Maximus for the big one at Aintree, I've got a couple of Scottish Grand National tips in a bid to land the double.

In a sensational bid to become British champion trainer, Willie Mullins sends six runners north of the border on Saturday.

Stable jockey Paul Townend, who guided the aforementioned I Am Maximus to success in the English Grand National, has chosen Spanish Harlem - a six-year-old novice yet to race over further than 2m4f.

It's certainly an eye-catching booking that raised a few eyebrows, including mine, but after sitting on it for a little while I think it's a sign that none of the Closutton maestro's raiders are particularly fancied.

That statement could look very silly in around 24 hours time - it wouldn't be the first time Mullins has made a fool out of me - but I'm going to oppose them all.

The one I'm keen to take a chance on is INIS OIRR for Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell.

He would have been impossible to advise before his triumph in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February, but the improvement he showed there makes him a very interesting contender.

For the majority of his 10 runs under rules prior, the seven-year-old son of Ocovango had been ridden patiently without the assistance of any headgear. He also raced mainly over three miles.

However, he was tried in a visor for the first time and sent off from the front in the Edinburgh National, over four miles as is the Scottish Grand National trip, which worked wonders as he absolutely bolted up by a widening 21 lengths.

It was unrecognisable, frankly, when compared to his earlier efforts. Bloodless. While his rivals in behind struggled, he looked fresh enough to go around again.

That was off a mark of 119 and he's been raised 14lbs, but he had so much in hand that this new rating of 133 could yet underestimate him. I'm prepared to take that chance.

Lucinda Russell, who won this race for the first time in 2021, has reported the selection schooled "fantastically" in the week and she sounded hopeful about him lifting the yard's spirits following a challenging week at Aintree which saw the passing of Giovinco and Corach Rambler fall at the first in the Grand National.

Betfred are paying six places on the Scottish Grand National and I advise making use of that with Seamus Mullins' TOMMIE BEAU.

The nine-year-old has taken his form to new heights this term, with his third in the Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle last time out rating a career-best performance.

Off an unchanged mark of 136 he was third in the North East, just over six lengths behind the winner Anglers Crag who is currently 17/2 for Saturday's race despite being eight pounds worse off with the selection.

That price difference is surely way too big and I can see him running another huge race, so as far as I'm concerned he's the standout each-way bet in the race.

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights