The ITV Racing crew will be at Ayr on Saturday for the latest renewal of the Scottish Grand National. Joining Ayr on our screens will be racing on the flat from Newbury’s Spring Trials fixture.
- 1:10 Ayr: Scotty Brand Handicap Chase – Traprain Law @ 9/1
- 1:25 Newbury: Dubai Duty Free Stakes – Stimulative Trip @ 14/1
- 1:45 Ayr: CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase – Diamond Dealer @ 7/2
- 2:00 Newbury: Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes – Zavateri @ 2/1
- 2:20 Ayr: Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle – Tutti Quanti @ 5/1
- 2:35 Newbury: Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes – Pride Of Arras @ 3/1
- 2:55 Ayr: Jordan Electrics Ltd Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – Love Of Neymore @ 5/1
- 3:10 Newbury: Win Unique Experiences At OLBG Prizes Spring Cup Handicap – Rogue Diplomat @ 7/1
- 3:35 Ayr: Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase – Quebecois @ 7/1
The first live race on Saturday will be the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase, a 2m½f Premier Handicap worth £75k. Calico and Matata have weight burdens of 11-7 and 12-0 to contend with so the sensible pick for us is to back last year’s runner-up, Traprain Law, each way.
The Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes, known as the Dubai Duty Free Stakes for sponsorship purposes is a recognised trail for the 1000 Guineas. Last year’s winner, Duty First, finished ninth in the Newmarket Classic but a very respectable fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas. David Menuisier’s Stimulative Trip won comfortably over this course and distance in her sole run last June and could be one to watch.
Dan Skelton’s Diamond Dealer led from pillar to post at Kelso last month and looks like a solid favourite in the 3m CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase.
The Greenham Stakes follows in what is Newbury’s trail for the 2000 Guineas. Andrew Balding’s Jonquil followed up victory here in 2025 by finishing runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas, finishing his three-year-old campaign with a fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Aidan O’Brien’s Albert Einstein could bounce back after a disappointing run at the Curragh but we’re siding with Eve Johnson Houghton’s National stakes winner Zavateri.
Paul Nicholls’ Tutti Quanti never got into the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing 20l behind Lossiemouth. His resounding victory in February’s William Hill Hurdle suggests he has the ability to win Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle, even under top weight.
Quickening ground has denied us the chance to see Constitution Hill in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes, or the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes to give the race its sponsored title. Pride Of Arras disappointed in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby but proved his Dante win wasn’t a flash in the pan when claiming victory in the Great Voltigeur at York and as is our selection here.
Love Of Neymore can reward Robbie Llewellyn for the long trip up to Ayr with a win in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. Rogue Diplomat is our pick for an ultra-competitive Spring Cup after narrowly missing out on victory in the Lincoln three weeks ago.
The Scottish Grand National brings the live action to a close with 21 runners set to compete in the 4m marathon. Quebecois for Paul Nicholls finished less than a length behind Johnnywho when third in the Ultima at Cheltenham, form franked by the victor’s fourth place in Aintree’s Grand National last week, and is our pick for the big one at Ayr.