Horse Power: Macdermott to win the Scottish Grand National again at Ayr

Following victory in Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse last week, Willie Mullins can win the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.35pm) with last year’s hero MACDERMOTT at Ayr on Saturday afternoon.

Following the highs of Nick Rockett’s victory in last week’s Grand National at Aintree, County Carlow handler Mullins has his eyes on a second successive British trainer’s title and like last year, he can grab victory in the Scottish version, he can grab victory in the Scottish version and Macdermott can be the first dual winner since Vicente scored back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. Mullins is closing in on Dan Skelton at the top of the trainers’ leaderboard and a similar performance in the Scottish Grand National as at Aintree and in the other races at Ayr could see him move ahead. And he has a number of entries in the 4m feature who could easily triumph. And despite an underwhelming campaign since last year’s narrow success Macdermott can score again under Danny Mullins.

Since his win in last year’s Scottish National, when he just pipped the reopposing Surrey Quest, Macdemott has been pulled up twice, finished down the field in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and unseated Danny Mullins at the start after he jinked right in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park – a race eventually won by Grand National hero Nick Rockett.

That can clearly be written off as he basically didn’t even get the chance to run. While he is better than he showed when pulled up in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February. He made an uncharacteristic mistake that day and at just seven and with only 10 chase starts, he can still improve. Back on decent ground at a track he clearly likes he can bounce back to form and if he puts it all together like he did 12 months ago give Mullins another big National victory

Stable-mates Chosen Witness – a winner at this meeting over hurdles last year; and Olympic Man – who will be ridden by Aintree hero Patrick Mullins – can also run big races for the Mullins’ team. While last year’s runner-up Surrey Quest, from the Toby Lawes’ stable, could repeat his finish from 12 months ago and the Skelton-trained Sail Away – a winner of the Champion Chase at this meeting two years ago – is another who may be involved in the finish. But it is likely to be Mullins – and Macdermott again – who comes out on top.

Mullins may have a few winners in Scotland with LOUGHLYNN set to score in the CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.43pm). The seven-year-old – who was second to stable-mate High Class Hero in a 2m6½f Beginners Chase at Punchestown in February – can go one better stepped up to an extended three miles.

Mullins’ ETHICAL DIAMOND can also win the Grade Two Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.15pm). The five-year-old won a two-mile Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown Festival in February. Ethical Diamond ran a fine race to be fourth to stable-mate Kargese in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. And he can build on that to triumph at Ayr.

ARMED AND FABULOUS could be part of a four-timer for Mullins with victory in the UK Greentech Glasgow Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.55pm).

Nicky Henderson’s CALIMYSTIC can win the Stagecoach We’ve Got You Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.10pm). The six-year-old landed a first success over hurdles when scoring at Doncaster in February. He can back that up with another win ahead of Mullins’ Jump Allen and C’Est Ta Chance to at least keep Skelton fighting for the title.

Cheshire-based trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero – who saw their first runner in the Grand Nation, Iroko, run a fine race when fourth to Nick Rockett last weekend – may triumph in the opener, the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (1.10pm) with HOMME PUBLIC. The consistent eight-year-old won at Doncaster in December and has run well to be runner-up twice on his two most recent starts at Doncaster over 2m½f and over 2m3½f at Bangor last month. Homme Public can go one better than those two efforts to score in the extended two-mile chase.

Others who can win up in Scotland are Mullins’ CHART TOPPER – who missed out on a hat-trick when second to Jet To Vegas in the Grade Two Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso last month – in the Tennent’s Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.45pm); and STRIDE ONE for the dual Grand National-winning Scottish stable of Lucinda Russell, in the finale, the Brandinghub For Signs & Graphics Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race) (5.20pm).

On the Flat at Newbury John & Thady Gosden’s CHANCELLOR can win the Group Three Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (Colts & Geldings) (2.35pm). The Kingman colt won two of his three starts as a juvenile, impressing in his most recent run when scoring at Doncaster last August. He can return to action and stepped up to a mile for the first time can triumph and book his ticket to a crack at Classic glory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket next month.

Charlie Appleby’s ANCIENT WISDOM – under Liverpool FC fan William Buick – can return to action with victory in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (1.25pm). The four-year-old son of Dubawi was eighth in the Betfred Derby at Epsom last June but won the Group Three Bahrain Stakes at Newmarket the following month. He can make a winning reappearance before potentially returning to Group One company later in the season.

Aidan O’Brien’s HEAVENS GATE can also make a winning return in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes) (Fillies) (2pm).

Others who can triumph in Berkshire are Jack Channon’s recent Chelmsford City scorer URBAN LION in the OLBG Spring Cup Handicap (3.12pm); the William Haggas-trained CROWN OF OAKS in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes (For horses Which Have Run No More Than Twice (GBB Race) (3.55pm); and MORCAR – from the Richard Hannon stable – in the finale, the Dubai Duty Free Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (4.54pm).

At Bangor Greenall and Guerriero’s KING ULANDA can win the Thorncliffe Building Supplies Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.42pm); the Neil Mulholland-trained ROCK ON RITA can take the Stamford Agricultural Services Limited Novices’ Handicap Chase (2.08pm); while GREY SKIES – from the Cheshire stable of Merseyside-born Donald McCain – can score in the Pentraeth Subaru Handicap Hurdle (2.45pm).

Wright Ones

AYR

1.10pm Unexpected Party
1.43pm Loughlynn
2.15pm Ethical Diamond
2.55pm Armed And Fabulous
3.35pm 1 Macdermott (NAP) 2 Surrey Quest 3 Olympic Man 4 Sail Away
4.10pm Histrionic
4.45pm Chart Topper
5.20pm Strike One

NEWBURY

1.25pm Ancient Wisdom
2pm Heavens Gate
2.35pm Chancellor
3.12pm Urban Lion
3.45pm Crown Of Oaks
4.19pm Kenneth
4.54pm Morcar

THIRSK

3.50pm Invincible Annie
4.30pm A War Eagle
5.05pm Northern Express
5.40pm Kodi Lion
6.10pm Arrange
6.40pm Musical Touch
7.10pm Lord Abama
7.40pm Shark Two One

BANGOR-ON-DEE

1.35pm Malicash
2.08pm Rock On Rita
2.45pm Grey Skies
3.20pm King Ulanda
3.59pm Do Your Job
4.34pm Kuzco
5.09pm Sir Hobnob

BRIGHTON

3.49pm Gennadius
4.24pm Kesta
4.59pm Tilsworth Ony Ta
5.30pm Lexington Knight
6pm Rivas Rob Roy
6.30pm Otago
7pm Light Up Our Stars
7.30pm Comedian Leader

NOTTINGHAM

4.05pm Dash Gordon
4.40pm Mr Cool
5.15pm Toby Tops
5.50pm Secret Theory
6.20pm Bobacious
6.50pm Manila Thriller
7.20pm Mr Jetman

SUNDAY’S NAP: Oriental Prince (Musselburgh 6.45pm)

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