Scottish Grand National at Ayr attracts select entry field as 31 runners declared

Due to the timing of Easter this year, the Scottish Grand National will take place seven days ahead of the Aintree Grand National.

This has left connections the headache of gambling on whether their horses are high enough rated to get into the Liverpool showpiece or securing what effectively will be a guaranteed run at Ayr.

One trainer that will be absent from the race will be Lucinda Russell. The Borders handler won the prize last year with Mighty Thunder but has elected to scratch all of her entries for this year’s renewal including Cheltenham Festival winner, Corach Rambler.

The weights are now headed by Irish raider, Hewick. Shark Hanlon’s seven-year-old is already a “National” winner having landed the Durham National at Sedgefield in October but has a little to prove having pulled up at Uttoxeter during the Midlands National.

Paul Nicholls has made no secret of his championship aims and having won this prize twice in the 2010’s, his lightly raced Enrilo would be very much of interest were he to head up to Scotland.

Christian Williams, who was formerly a rider for Nicholls, has two particularly strong claims of securing the £84,005 first prize.

Kitty’s Light is yet to win a race this season but her form has been in the top drawer this season and she was a decent second to his stablemate, Cap Du Nord in the Coral Trophy at Kempton in February.

Win My Wings also represents the Bridgend handler and the trip will present no concerns for the mare having won the Eider Chase at Newcastle.

Sandy Thomson heads the local defence has gone close repeatedly in the past with a number of placed finishers and he is likely to be represented on this occasion by Hill Sixteen and The Ferry Master in this year’s renewal.

The latter