Horse Racing Tips: Sam Turner's best bets for Scottish Grand National day including 20/1 pick

Ayr, 13.10 - Back Traprain Law each-way @ 6/17.00

It is fair to say that this season hasn't been quite the success story Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore had envisaged last autumn, however that could all change at this meeting and the duo hold strong chances throughout the Scottish National card.

King Of Answers appears to have a major chance of landing the feature race given the level of his performance at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Chase, while the likes of Big John Wayne, Fox's Fancy and Stride On will all have their respective followers in the shoulder events.

Maybe Traprain Law will begin the day in the best possible manner for the Perth & Kinross operation by eclipsing an abject performance in this curtain raiser 12 months ago.

The selection bombed out in the corresponding race last year, but that was following a commendable effort at Cheltenham just a month before whereas connections have wisely swerved that festival in preference for this one.

Traprain Law boasts form figures of 131322 when absent from the track for more than 50 days, while his track stats stand at 413312P with the anomaly that modest showing on last year's National day.

Hopefully, he can right those wrongs and put in a bold showing for his supporters here.

Newbury, 14.00 - Back Title Role each-way @ 15/28.50

One racing story that broke this week which may have gone under the radar a little is the appointment of Ed Crisford as private trainer to Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Jebel Ali Stables in Dubai, a role which will begin in earnest in August.

Crisford, in partnership with father Simon, have held a joint licence in Britain since May 2020 and have also operated a successful satellite yard in Dubai during recent winters with Title Role proving one of the success stories.

The son of Too Darn Hot ended a fruitful Middle Eastern campaign with victory in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas and, with fitness on his side, could prove the answer to an intriguing Greenham Stakes.

With Zavateri reappearing over a trip arguably short of his best as a three-year-old and Albert Einstein with some questions to answer in the first-time hood, Title Role could capitalise and it maybe worth recalling he made his debut at today's venue when beaten a short head by Humility in a race which has produced a staggering 21 winners since.    

Newbury, 15.10 - Back Checkandchallenge each-way @ 20/121.00

Despite reaching the ripe old age of seven, Checkandchallenge tackles the first handicap of his career in this OLBG Spring Cup and, with his stable making a bright start to the new turf season, he could be overpriced to end a winless sequence stretching back to November 2023.

Backing William Knight's Fast Company gelding is not for the faint hearted as he often starts slowly and with a 26-strong field in play, navigating potential traffic is going to play a big part in determining the result.

However, the previous two occasions Checkandchallenge has visited the Berkshire track he has run commendably in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes and the quartet that finished in front of him when beaten four lengths in last year's renewal were Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech so it's fair to say for a 100/1101.00 shot he performed with great credit.

Knight has sent out both Tilted Kilt and Royal Velvet to win on their respective seasonal reappearances in the last fortnight and, at odds in excess of 20/121.00 with enhanced places on offer, Checkandchallenge might just spring a mini surprise.

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