The biggest Scottish jump meeting of the year takes place at Ayr on Saturday with eight excellent races on offer headlined by the Premier Handicap, the 2023 Coral Scottish Grand National.
First up is the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap). This event is just short of the two-mile journey and requires good jumping.
Frere D'Armes will be aiming to maintain his strong form having impressed on his chase debut at Kempton before following up with a comfortable win at Newbury in November. The six-year-old trained by Dan Skelton had a mid-season break and ran well again when second at Ascot three weeks ago. Better ground will likely prove an important factor to his chances.
Return Ticket won this event last year and returned to something like his best form a fortnight ago at Carlisle when successful by an easy eight lengths at Class Three level. Back up in grade, he remains on a competitive handicap mark. Elixir De Nutz looks interesting if the nine-year-old grey is able to return to best form.
Selection: Frere D'Armes
JOCKEY WATCH: Nico De Boinville working at a 28%-win strike rate in the last month (10-36)
Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville teamed up last year in the CPMS Novices Champion Handicap Chase to win with Dusart. On Saturday together once more they pair up with City Chief, a previous course winner who found success in a three-mile novices handicap hurdle last year. He won easily at Hereford and was also a five-length winner of the Grade Two Towton Novices Chase at Wetherby.
Oscar Elite looks interesting after victory in the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices Chase at Ascot in February. The form of that three-runner contest has worked out well. He produced a solid fifth at the Cheltenham Festival behind last week's Grand National winner Corach Rambler and the eight-year-old could go close.
Selection: City Chief
The Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle is a competitive Grade Two Limited handicap where winners of the past two years come back to defend their titles. Last year, Anna Bunina won and subsequently it has been a busy twelve months for her with mixed results. Milkwood won the 2021 renewal for the same jockey and trainer combination and could appeal if at his best. Rubaud is another on the shortlist after success in the Kempton Grade Two Dovecote Novices Hurdle in February.
Selection: Milkwood
TRAINER WATCH: Paul Nicholls is 12-51 in the last 14 days (24%).
The 2023 Coral Scottish Grand National will see last year's Novice Champion Chase Handicap winner Dusart come into the race having pulled-up in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January. As with most, he faces a steep rise in trip and looks interesting for a top jockey and trainer team in Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. Monbeg Genius has been very consistent this season with a Newcastle success before a pair of Chepstow wins. These were prior to an excellent third at the Cheltenham Festival behind last week's Grand National winner, Corach Rambler.
The winning trainer of this contest last year was Christian Williams. This time he runs Kitty's Light who was runner-up in this feature event twelve months ago and maintained good form in 2023 with a Kempton third before a victory in the Eider Handicap Chase over a similar marathon journey at Newcastle on similar ground. Flash Collonges could be interesting rising in trip for the inform Paul Nicolls yard. Nicky Richards won this race in 2019 and is represented by Famous Bridge, who is a previous course winner. Another horse looking to win the race again is Mighty Thunder having scored in 2021. Stablemate Your Own Story is consistent and holds form over marathon distances representing last week's Aintree Grand National winning team.
Selection: Kitty's Light
TRAINER WATCH: Lucinda Russell is one of Ayr's leading trainers this season with a 20%-win strike rate (13-64)
