Willie Mullins is seeking a hat-trick in the Scottish Grand National, having won the last two runnings with Macdermott in 2024 and Captain Cody in 2025. He will be represented by Road To Home, with Patrick Mullins riding. Road To Home has yet to win over fences but was beaten a neck by Ask Brewster in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham Festival last month, and Ask Brewster is also in the line-up, trained by Cath Williams. Cath Williams' husband Evan was jailed for three years this week for attacking an elderly dog walker with a hockey stick, according to reports.
Other notable contenders include Kim Roque, trained by Joseph O'Brien, and King Of Answers, trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore. Kim Roque finished fourth in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, two places behind Road To Home. King Of Answers represents a stable that won the Scottish Grand National five years ago with Mighty Thunder. Montregard, trained by Tom Lacey and owned by JP McManus, will be McManus' sole representative and has won three and finished second once in five starts this season.
In the Scottish Champion Hurdle, Cracking Rhapsody is bidding to become the first horse to retain the title since Sea Pigeon in 1977 and 1978, having won last year by a neck from Kabral Du Mathan. He will line up off the same mark of 137 as last year. Ohh Betty was beaten half-a-length by Cracking Rhapsody in last year's race and will line up a pound below last year's mark.
Additional details include showers forecast through the week at Ayr, which may affect ground conditions. The Scotty Brand Handicap Chase is the opening race at Ayr on Saturday. In broader racing context, Willie Mullins won his third successive Grand National last week with I Am Maximus.