CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL [19/4/08]

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Ayr 3:40 CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE GRADE 3 (CLASS 1) (5yo+) Winner £114,020.00 4m110y SOFT

01 3P-324 Halcon Genelardais A King 8 11-12 Robert Thornton
Spotlight - Former Welsh National winner who narrowly failed to defy a 9lb higher mark when giving 21lb to Miko De Beauchene in this seasons renewal, ran as well as could be expected in the Gold Cup, relishes testing ground and keeps all bar two out of the handicap proper and would need an almighty performance to defy the weight burden,

02 U-2112 Miko De Beauchene R H & Mrs S Alner 8 10-10 Robert Walford
Spotlight - Possibly the most improved staying chaser in training, Welsh National soon followed by another gutsy display in the Red Square at Haydock, nearly took advantage of lower hurdle rating in the Pertemps at Cheltenham, bypassed Aintree for this and even though he's 18lb higher then at the start of the season, there's no telling when his gonna reach the limit of his progression,

03 120-1P Opera Mundi P F Nicholls 6 10-7 Ruby Walsh
Spotlight - Ground looks to be important to him, the softer the better, got the better of a duel with Heez A Dreamer at Haydock in november, disappointed either side of that victory in bigger field handicaps although ground may of been quicker than ideal, pulled out of the Grand National at the last minute due to the ground, yard went extremely close a few years ago and will be hoping for more luck here,

04 273221 Old Benny A King 7 10-0b Richard Johnson
Spotlight - Steps out of novice company for the first time here having showed stamina to be his strong suit when winning the National Hunt Chase at the festival, that was in blinkers which he keeps on here and although he's potential a smart recruit to the staying scene, this may come a little to soon,

05 9P-0U4 Patsy Hall A J Martin 8 10-0 P Carberry
Spotlight - Grade 1 placed as a novice but has been a little disappointing including this season for new yard, returned to form in the William Hill latest, would of been closer but for a mistake at the last, has an abundance of stamina in his pedigree and dangerous to ignore,

06 4-P210 Wild Cane Ridge L Lungo 9 10-0b Wilson Renwick
Spotlight - Not always been the most reliable over fences, often makes mistakes and gets himself well behind, but has comeback to life in blinkers this season back over hurdles, unsure what to expect back over the bigger obstacles, handles testing ground,

07 4-P360 Mon Mome Miss Venetia Williams 8 10-0 Liam Treadwell
Spotlight - Only a 1lb higher than when runner up in last years Welsh National, is an out and out stayer and was travelling well in the Grand National before being hampered, hasn't been easy to train this year and this will be his fifth outing in the last two months, no forlorn hope but others make more appeal,

08 31P320 Kilbeggan Blade T R George 9 10-0 P J Brennan
Spotlight - Handled stamina test really well at Sandown back in the Autumn, but has struggled with rise in the weights since, including when behind a few of these in the Red Square,

09 -PP2P6 Flintoff Miss Venetia Williams 7 10-0b A Coleman(5)
Spotlight - Has his own ideals about the game and to my eye he threw away the Red Square when refusing to pass Miko De Beauchene up the running, bounced back from Midlands National disappointment in the Irish version of this on Easter Monday when a respectable sixth, wouldn't be placing to much trust in him,

10 03P652 Openide B W Duke 7 10-0 T Molloy(5)
Spotlight - Has been running well in long distance handicaps of late including latest effort when runner up in the Kim Muir, bound to run his race but surprise if he was good enough to win,

11 84-2BU Philson Run Nick Williams 12 10-0 Daryl Jacob
Spotlight - Got in to the Grand National right at the last minute but thats where he's luck ended as he endured a terrible run in the race inwhich he was fourth in the year before, lets hope that hasn't taken the edge of him as he stays well and if he gets the rub of the green, he's a danger to all,

12 9F0U7F Tommy Spar P Bowen 8 10-0p
Spotlight - Impossible to recommend, yard been out of form and so has he, can't see him staying, either,

13 /452-6 Ossmoses D M Forster 11 10-0 Richard McGrath
Spotlight - Has sadly been forced to miss the last two runnings of the Grand National, last year due to injury and didn't get in this time, shame as he stays forever and is a fantastic jumper, former winner of the Red Square who showed he retains plenty of ability on return from a long layoff in the Veterans' race at Newbury last month, at his best when mud is flying and ticks all the right boxes, the most likely winner,

14 1453PP Irish Wolf P Bowen 8 10-0p
Spotlight - Another coming up from the valleys but has looked in decline of late, recent form all on better ground than his gonna get here,

15 -6FP23 Leading Man Ferdy Murphy 8 10-0tp Keith Mercer
Spotlight - Beat Sir Rembrandt in last seasons Rowland Merrick, things haven't quite gone his way this term although recent form (with the help of cheekpieces) suggests his coming back to he's best, looks to have the stamina to see it out for yard that have farmed this race in recent seasons,

16 3112-4 Noir Et Vert Ferdy Murphy 7 10-0 C I Gillies(7)
Spotlight - Has quickly made up in to a leading pretender for this race off the back of a blinding run in the Kim Muir at the Festival after an eleven month absense, jumping did leave alot to be desired on occasions but he should be sharper now, very capable youngster booked and yard know what it takes to land this prize,

17 8PF0FP Dunbrody Millar P Bowen 10 10-0p
Spotlight - Last seasons Topham winner who has looked a mess ever since, more letters than numbers in his form of late is a worry as is stable's form, others have more solid credentials,

18 -53PP5 Royal Rosa J Howard Johnson 9 10-0 J P O´Farrell(3)
Spotlight - Threatened to be a world beater in his youth but has never fulfilled potential, was fifth in the Eider the last day but I'm not convinced he'll see out the trip,

19 2P7P20 Azulejo M Scudamore 10 10-0t
Spotlight - Would need a walk over to win, and even then I wouldn't fancy him,

20 73FP4P Model Son P A Blockley 10 10-0
Spotlight - Hasn't looked likely to take advantage of his declining mark of late, fourth in the Midlands National recently but is unreliable in a race of this nature,

21 02P203 Another Rum J R Weymes 10 10-0p Brian Harding
Spotlight - Useful on his day, runner up here in february behind Cloudy Lane, but should be carrying 8-3 and is gonna struggle,

22 6-P313 Iris De Balme S Curran 8 10-0
Spotlight - Recently broke his maiden in the Kent National at Folkestone, he won't be winning another here,

23 145576 Strong Resolve Miss Lucinda V Russell 12 10-0 Peter Buchanan
Spotlight - Runner up behind Grand National winner Silver Birch in the Welsh National some 3+ years ago, in decline and even though he'll probably plod around, it'll be a fence or two behind the winner,

24 -2FF71 In The Loop R T J Wilson 10 10-0 R Loughran
Spotlight - Useful Hunter Chase winner who took a notable scalp when deafeting Dun Doire at Down Royal last month, is more than 2st out of the handicap and is gonna struggle to make any impression this time,

Yew Tree Prediction -

1st Ossmoses 2nd Miko De Beauchene 3rd Old Benny 4th Philson Run

Curtosy of YEW TREE RACING...........HERE


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My tip for this years Coral Scottish Grand National is OLD BENNY

GOOD LUCK...