Scottish Grand National 5e5d4l
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The Scottish Grand National is a Grade 3 handicap chase, held at Grand National, the Midlands Grand National and the Eider Chase. There are 27 fences to be jumped during the Scottish Grand National.
It is open to horses aged five years or older, and as a handicap, relies on a system of weights allocated according to horses’ official ratings, with the highest-rated horse in the field now carrying top-weight of 11 stone 12 pounds, and the lowest-rated horses carrying bottom-weight of ten stone.
The most recent winner of the Scottish Grand National is Sean Quinlan. He won the 2019 renewal at 25/1, under a weight of 10st 1lb, and was given a Timeform rating of 137+ for his performance.
The race has been run in some form since 1858, changing name once (from the ‘West of Scotland Grand National’) and venue twice, being held for 99 years at Bogside Racecourse from 1867 until the venue was closed in 1965. In 1966, the first Scottish Grand National as we know it today was run at Ayr, with a slight increase in distance to better fit its new home.
Since then, three horses have completed the Aintree-Ayr Grand National double, with Little Polveir and Earth Summit winning the Scottish versions in 1987 and 1994 respectively, before finding fame at Liverpool in 1989 and 1998. With the two races being run within weeks of each other, it’s extremely difficult for a horse to contest, let alone win, both in the same year. So it’s perhaps no surprise that the only horse to have managed that feat was the great Red Rum in 1974, carrying top-weights of 12 stone and 11 stone 13lb to glory just three weeks apart.
With the Scottish Grand National being run just a week after its English counterpart in 2019, only one horse was sent to compete in both – Sue Smith’s grey, Vintage Clouds, who only got as far as the first fence at Aintree, before finishing sixth at Ayr. Vintage Clouds also finished third in the Scottish National in 2018 and seventh in 2017, and carries the colours of Grand National devotee Trever Hemmings.
DUAL-WINNER VICENTE (LEFT) CARRIES THE COLOURS OF TREVOR HEMMINGS TO GLORY IN 2017
Four horses have won the Scottish Grand National twice at Ayr, the most recent being the Paul Nicholls trained Vicente, who won in 2016 before being bought by Mr Hemmings, and was sent out to win again in 2017 before coming fifth in 2018.
Prize money for the Scottish Grand National stands at £215,000, with just over £122,000 awarded to the winner – the second highest amount for any jumps handicap, after the Aintree Grand National.
SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL TOP TRAINER 4b4t28
Since 1966 when the race moved to Ayr, no fewer than twelve trainers have won the Scottish Grand National twice. Of those, six have won it three times, but only Ken Oliver has won it four times – and with four different horses (1970, 1971, 1979, 1982). Of present-day trainers, both Paul Nicholls (1997, 2016, 2017) have won it three times.
SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL TOP JOCKEY 4i3i4d
Since 1966, seven jockeys have won the Scottish Grand National twice, but only Mark Dwyer has won it three times (1984, 1985, 1996). Of those still riding, only Sam Twiston-Davies has won it twice, both aboard Vicente for Paul Nicholls (2016, 2017).
SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL RACE CARD 4eq1u
The Scottish Grand National meetings is run over two days at Ayr, a Friday and a Saturday. The Scottish Grand National itself is the fifth of eight races on the Saturday card. There are also several valuable handicaps on the card, including the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle Limited Handicap (£59,797 to winner), and the J&D Pierce Novices’ Championship Handicap (£62,560 to winner).
Scotty Brand Handicap Chase – a Listed handicap race for horses of five years or older
J&D Pierce Novices’ Championship Handicap Chase – a handicap Race for novice chasers of five years or older
MS Scottish Championship Hurdle (Grade 2) – a limited handicap Grade 2 for horses of four years or older
Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) – a Grade 2 race for novice chasers of five years or older
CHESTERFIELD (FAR LEFT) EN ROUTE TO VICTORY IN THE 2017 SCOTTISH CHAMPION HURDLE
SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL BETTING 4e6dq
The Scottish Grand National is consistently one of the most popular UK races of the year for punters, with Ladbrokes-Coral naming it number four most bet-upon race in 2018, according to betting shop turnover.
SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL FREE BETS AND BETTING OFFERS 4k5a1o
As such a popular betting race, there are often some great deals to be found with the bookmakers, including enhanced odds, bet-through-the-card and extra places offers.
You can find our top three horse racing betting offers below, or head to our Free Bets page for deals from almost 30 bookmakers.
scottish grand national TIPS 4d1o63
Want to know which horses Timeform’s expert tipsters are backing on Scottish National day? You can get Scottish Grand National tips.
Follow all the build up to the Scottish National on the Results.