The Scottish Grand National is being held at Ayr this Saturday, with a field of 21 runners, according to multiple reports. Kim Roque and King Of Answers have headed the ante-post markets for the race, setting the stage for a competitive event. The exact starting time for the race has not been confirmed, and weather conditions at Ayr on Saturday could influence ground conditions, though forecasts remain unclear.
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, according to major media. He will be represented by Road To Home in the race, with Patrick Mullins riding, as reported by the same sources. Road To Home was beaten a neck by Ask Brewster in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last month, indicating strong form heading into this contest.
Among other top contenders, Kim Roque is trained by Joseph O'Brien and finished fourth in the Kim Muir, two places behind Road To Home, according to major media. King Of Answers is trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, a stable that won the Scottish Grand National five years ago with Mighty Thunder, as per reports. Current odds for these and other key contenders have not been widely published across sources, adding uncertainty to betting markets.
Trainer Dan Skelton has already been named the winner of the trainers' championship this season, according to multiple reports. He smashed through the £4m prize money barrier this season, a record for a trainer in this country, and Diamond Dealer took him past that landmark when he scored at Kelso last time. Diamond Dealer showed he has pace over a shorter distance and stamina in a scrap when winning at Kelso last time, though his participation in the Scottish Grand National is not specified.
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, as reported by major media. He won the race last year by a neck over Kabral Du Mathan and will line up this year off the same mark of 137, after finishing fourth to Wilful in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. His rival Ohh Betty was beaten half-a-length by Cracking Rhapsody in last year's Scottish Champion Hurdle, and she won a Grade Two two starts ago, lining up this year a pound below last year's mark.
Other notable runners include Montregard, trained by Tom Lacey and owned by JP McManus, who has won three and finished second once in his five starts this season, according to major media. Chasingouttheblues has won his last two starts over an extended three miles at Catterick and Carlisle, while Palacio made most of the running and won decisively by 5 lengths last time at Newbury. Tutti Quanti won the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury prior to being beaten by 20 lengths by Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle last month.
Detailed form analyses for horses like Our Power or Blaze The Way, mentioned but not deeply analyzed in reports, are not available, and last-minute withdrawals or changes to the runner list have not been confirmed. Ask Brewster is trained by Cath Williams, whose husband Evan was jailed for three years this week for attacking an elderly dog walker with a hockey stick, according to major media. This personal situation may affect connections ahead of the race, though its impact on performance remains uncertain.