RacingBetter News
	Tuesday 6th April 2021

Who are the favourites for the upcoming Scottish Grand National?

If you are a fan of jumps racing, then there is a lot to get excited about throughout April. The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, the Grand National at Aintree and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr will certainly have followers of the sport rubbing their hands in anticipation and no stone will be left unturned as the punters study the form guides and betting markets in the hope that their selection will be at the fore of the racing results.

The Scottish Grand National is the one we are going to zone in on in this article. The four-mile race is due to take place on April 17th, exactly one week after the Aintree showpiece. So, as we count down the days to the Ayr outing let’s take a look at the favourites for the Grade 3 race. Read on to find out more!

Galvin – 6/1

Galvin is the favourite at 6/1 and it goes without saying that the Ian Ferguson-trained horse is the one to beat at Ayr. The six-year-old was moved to Ferguson’s Northern Ireland-based yard from Gordon Elliott’s, due to controversy surrounding the Irish trainer, prior to the recent Cheltenham Festival. However, Galvin kept up his fine form at the Prestbury Park meeting, winning the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase as the 7/2 third favourite. That was a fifth victory in a row for the horse, and the punters will certainly be hoping he makes it six in Scotland.

Escaria Ten - 10/1

Escaria Ten is another horse to feel the wrath of Elliott’s ban. However, instead of being moved to different stable, he will instead be trained by Denise Foster, who is covering for the former Cheltenham Leading Trainer while he sees out his suspension. The seven-year-old came home in third just three lengths behind Galvin at Cheltenham, and it will be a tough task for Foster and likely rider Adrian Heskin to turn around that deficit at Ayr. What Escaria Ten does boast, however, is a win at the Scottish racecourse, which came in a Novices’ Hurdle last January, and that could put him in good stead ahead of the race.

Sam’s Adventure – 12/1

Sam’s Adventure could make for an interesting each-way bet at 12/1. The Brian Hughes-trained horse underwent wind surgery last January and hasn’t been in bad form since. He was second in his first race back at Newcastle before a Novices’ Handicap Chase victory at Uttoxeter. There were a couple of below-par outings in November. However, he bounced back with a win in the Betfair Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock in December and his recent victory over four miles, one-and-a-half-furlongs in a Handicap Chase at Newcastle is proof that he can stay the distance.

Aye Right – 14/1

There’s no doubt that trainer Harriet Graham will be frustrated following Aye Right’s recent form. It seems that the eight-year-old has been there or there abouts, but he just hasn’t been able to find that extra edge to get himself over the line in first. In fact, this season, Aye Right has placed in five of his six races, including three second-placed finishes. So, he could be worth backing e/w, but, without a winning ride since January 2020, don’t bank on him nabbing a victory.