Talking Horses: Kitty’s Light to shine brightest in Scottish Grand National

C orach Rambler’s impressive success in the Grand National at Aintree a week ago is fresh in the memory and both Your Own Story, a stablemate at the Lucinda Russell yard, and Monbeg Genius, a close third behind Corach Rambler at Cheltenham in March, are likely to attract support for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday as a result.

Both have decent claims on the book but not, perhaps, quite the chance that their current odds might suggest. Monbeg Genius is up another 5lb in the weights after a hard race at the Festival, while Your Own Story is 1lb out of the handicap and also had a tough race last time, a week on from Monbeg Genius’s brave effort at Cheltenham.

Gavin Cromwell saddled Vanillier to be a fast-finishing second to Corach Rambler at Aintree and his mare Malina Girl should be in the mix on the form of her win on heavy ground at Downpatrick last time, but she has had even less time to recover and runs off a 9lb higher mark.

That may leave last year’s renewal of Saturday’s race, in which Christian Williams saddled the 1-2, as the most significant piece of form on offer.

The well-handicapped Win My Wings was a convincing winner 12 months ago, but her stable companion, Kitty’s Light (3.35), was five lengths clear of the third horse home and he runs off a 3lb lower mark this time around.

The seven-year-old has been kept fresh for Saturday’s race after landing a gamble with something to spare in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February, and is an appealing bet at around 5-1 to go one better than last season.

Ayr 1.15 A 128-day break seemed to catch up with Frere D’Armes in the closing stages at Ascot earlier this month but he looked more than capable of following up his convincing win in November for much