Scottish Grand National: Timeform's expert verdict

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Scottish Grand National
15:35 Ayr, Saturday
Live on ITV

1. Stay Away Fay (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden)

Won Albert Bartlett last year and better still over fences this term, winning over at Exeter and Sandown (Grade 2) before Christmas. Disappointed with cheekpieces (quickly discarded) added to regular tongue tie at Cheltenham but he can bounce back faced with a stamina test which should suit.

2. Mr Incredible (Willie Mullins/Mr Patrick Mullins)

Has looked quirky but no doubting his ability, placing in another good handicap when splitting Beauport and My Silver Lining in the Midlands National on Uttoxeter reappearance. In rear (lost several lengths at start) when unseating halfway in Grand National last weekend, but of interest if in the right mood.

3. Elvis Mail (Nick Alexander/Bruce Lynn (3))

Useful handicapper who notched a second chase win of the season when leading close home in a 3m Carlisle veterans' event 13 days ago. Looks vulnerable off 4 lb higher in this much more competitive race.

4. Beauport (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Jordan Nailor)

Bit of a mixed record over fences but he's smart on his day and put it altogether when overcoming some sticky jumping to land the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4¼m, heavy) last month. Raised 5 lb for that but he's unexposed over marathon trips.

5. Ontheropes (Willie Mullins/Brian Hayes)

Smart earlier in his career but hasn't shown much obvious promise in 3 outings since returning from a long absence.

6. Spanish Harlem (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)

Progressing gradually over fences, finishing third in maiden events around 2½m on all 3 starts. Fascinating contender now stepping up markedly in trip for handicap chase debut.

7. Gold Cup Bailly (Stuart Crawford/J.J. Slevin)

Useful chaser who won his first 3 starts (including twice here) last season but found life tougher later in the campaign and this is a big ask after a year off.

8. Iron Bridge (Jonjo O'Neill/Jonjo O'Neill Jr)

Bumper/dual hurdle winner who quickly developed into a smart chaser. Best of the rest behind Nassalam in Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas before excellent third in Grand National Trial at Haydock in February. A subsequent no show in the Midlands National since needs forgiving, though.

9. Whistleinthedark (Laura Morgan/Danny McMenamin)

Won first 4 chases last season but has found ife tougher this time round, finishing well behind Git Maker and Whacker Clan in Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month.

10. Ballygrifincottage (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton)

Low-mileage chaser who warmed up for this by finishing second in a 3m Sandown handicap last month. His stamina has to be taken on trust but his trainer has few peers when it comes to teeing one up for big handicaps.

11. Macdermott (Willie Mullins/Danny Mullins)

Promising 6-y-o who looked a different proposition stepped up to around 3m for the first time when readily making all at Fairyhouse 19 days ago. Faces a much greater stamina test now but there's surely more to come from this lightly-raced sort from an all-conquering yard.

12. Tommie Beau (Seamus Mullins/Micheal Nolan)

Better than ever when winning back to back at Sedgefield (Durham National) and Fontwell (Southern National) in the autumn. Another fine effort when 6¾ lengths third of 12 to Anglers Crag in Eider at Newcastle (33f, soft) last time. A credit to connections.

13. Broken Halo (Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost)

Failed to complete on first 3 outings this season but back on track lately, second in Royal Artillery at Sandown before taking a 3½m handicap at Taunton. This is a lot more competitive, though.

14. Mr Vango (Sara Bradstock/Ben Jones)

Maiden hurdle winner last season and this former point scorer has quickly made up into a much better chaser, producing a useful performance when routing his rivals in Devon National at Exeter. Backed that up when third in National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham Festival. Cheekpieces worn then retained.

15. Autonomous Cloud (Fergal O'Brien/Jonathan Burke)

Largely progressive chaser who bounced back from his no show in the Welsh National when 7¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Beauport in the Midlands version at Uttoxeter (4¼m, heavy) last month. Respected.

16. Anglers Crag (Brian Ellison/Henry Brooke)

Big improver for new stable after wind surgery, making it 4-4 when overcoming mistakes to edged ahead close home in the Eider at Newcastle (33f, soft) in February. Unlikely to get away with similar errors here but further progress certainly can't be discounted.

17. Inis Oirr (Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox)

Much improved for a first-time visor and an increased stamina test when bolting up in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh (4m, good to soft) in February. Presumably saved for this since by a Scottish yard which won this in 2021.

18. My Silver Lining (Emma Lavelle/James Best)

Progressive mare who relished the increased test of stamina when bagging her fourth chase win in Classic Chase at Warwick (29f, soft) in January. Excellent placed efforts in the Grand National Trial at Haydock and Midlands National at Uttoxeter (2¼ lengths third to Beauport) since. Should go well.

19. Git Maker (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)

Good strike-rate under Rules, winning 6 of 11 starts. Better than ever when 8 lengths second to Inothewayurthinkin in Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3¼m, soft), pulling 18 lengths clear of Whacker Clan in third. The winner boosted that form when landing a Grade 1 novice at Aintree last week. On good mark.

20. Surrey Quest (Toby Lawes/Kevin Brogan)

Dual hurdles winner for Nicky Henderson and improved when bagging chase victories Huntingdon and Newbury either side of Christmas. His run of good form came to a halt when only tenth in the Great Yorkshire at Doncaster (3m, good) in January but the sort to bounce back. Will stay long distances.

21. Klarc Kent (Willie Mullins/Sean O'Keeffe)

Went close to a first chase success on 21.5f Fairyhouse handicap debut at the end of March. The much longer trip asks a different question but he's another unexposed one in this for his top stable.

22. Whacker Clan (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore)

Progressive chaser who won a pair of handicaps in the first half of the season and gave his all from the front when third of 22 in Kim Mur at Cheltenham, although the reopposing Git Maker was 18 lengths ahead in second. Likeable type for his leading Irish stable.

23. Egbert (Alan King/Brendan Powell)

Maiden hurdle winner last term and won a pair of novice handicaps this winter, latterly over 3m at Doncaster. Advanced his form again when runner-up at Kempton (3m, good to soft) in first-time blinkers (retained) last month. Up significantly in trip for a yard with winning form in this race.

24. Punitive (Peter Bowen/William Maggs (7))

Lost his way for Gordon Elliott. Took a step back in the right direction when third of 7 over 3½m at Ffos Las but it's still hard to make a good case for him here from 5 lb out of handicap. First-time tongue tie goes on.

25. Secret Reprieve (Evan Williams/James Turner (7))

Won the Welsh Grand National in 2020/21 and ran well to be placed in good company twice last season. Probably needed his reappearance run at Sandown in March after 12 months on the sidelines. 5 lb out of handicap.

26. We'llhavewan (Willie Mullins/Kieran Callaghan (5))

Winner of 3 handicap hurdles this season. Good second back chasing at Punchestown in February but could only manage a well-held sixth in the Irish Grand National over Easter. 5 lb out of handicap.

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Timeform's Analyst Verdict:

Jamie Snowden can land another big handicap chase courtesy of GIT MAKER. This 8-y-o bumped into a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and the fact he pulled 18 lengths clear of the reopposing Whacker Clan in third suggests he could be well treated here off only 1 lb higher. Willie Mullins is going all out for the British title after last weekend's Grand National success and his unexposed pair Macdermott and Spanish Harlem are very interesting contenders now stepping up markedly in trip.

Timeform's 1-2-3:

1. Git Maker
2. Macdermott
3. Spanish Harlem