Alan Thomson’s Tips: Scottish Grand National Day 2

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SIZING TENNESSEE (4.05) can make Robbie Power’s first Coral Scottish Grand National ride a winning one at Ayr.

Sizing Tennessee brings some top notch form to the tartan party. He was unfortunate to come down at the penultimate fence when just taking the measure of Black Corton and Fagan at Cheltenham earlier in the season.

More recently, he ran very well in the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival when third to Rathvinden and Ms Parfois. Colin Tizzard’s gelding struggled to get up the Cheltenham hill but this flatter track and quicker ground will be ideal for Sizing Tennessee.

Fagan represents the Tiger Roll Aintree dream team of Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell and bookmakers will be wary of another huge Saturday pay-out.

Vintage Clouds looks fairly treated and it could be a blessing in disguise that Sue Smith’s gelding missed out on a run in last weekend’s Aintree Grand National slog. Vintage Clouds finished seventh to Vicente in this race last year, clouting the first fence when trying to impose himself from the front.

The eight-year-old has been most consistent, finishing a running-on fourth in the Welsh Grand National, before chasing home Ballyoptic at Wetherby and finishing third to Coo Star Sivola at Cheltenham. Vintage Clouds is adaptable ground-wise, having won by 18 lengths on good to soft at Aintree last season.

Ballyoptic re-opposes on 5lb worse terms but ran a cracker at Cheltenham when fourth to impressive Presenting Percy in the RSA Chase. His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was out of luck last Saturday when Blaklion was brought down at the first fence but has a fine record in this race, saddling the second and third last year, Cogry and Benbens.

Vicente bids for an unprecedented third straight victory in the race and although 4lb higher this time round he will be a fresh horse having been pulled out late at Liverpool due to the deep ground. His ability to carry big weights in the Scottish Grand National is clearly a bonus and he has 11st 7lb to lump round compared to 11st 12lb last year. Drying ground increases confidence in the Paul Nicholls- trained stayer making history.

If all 16 runners go to post for the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle there are several each-way options open to punters in another wide-open renewal.

My two against the field are last year’s winner CHESTERFIELD (2.55) and I’m A Game Changer.

Chesterfield ran a stormer at the Cheltenham festival, finishing a close fourth to Mohaayed in the 24-runner County Hurdle. The ground was riding much softer than he ideally prefers and he was a late withdrawal at Aintree last Saturday with the track riding deep. The eight-year-old runs off the same mark as 12 months ago and everything is in place for another big run.

At a much bigger price I’m A Game Changer is stepped up in class following his easy Ludlow success. Philip Hobbs was bringing him back from a nice summer break and I’m A Game Changer picked up a penalty to ensure he made today’s line-up. Connections probably have had this race in mind for some time.

Last year Theinval ran twice in 24 hours, finishing runner-up on both occasions, and he would be of interest if turning out again in the opening 2m Listed Handicap Chase following yesterday’s exertions.

FOREST BIHAN (1.45) could manage only fourth to Duke Of Navan at Doncaster at the end of January but is 7lb better off on ground he will lap up. The track was riding good when Forest Bihan beat the useful Simply Ned at Kelso back in October and he has had a winning spin on the all-weather at Newcastle as preparation for this assignment.

BARNEY DWAN (2.20) will appreciate the return to three miles following his fourth to Mister Whitaker over 2m 4f at Cheltenham last month.

He was second to the splendid Presenting Percy in the 2017 Pertemps Network Final at Cheltenham on good ground and scored effortlessly by 15 lengths over three miles at Market Rasen this winter.

Nicky Henderson’s runners are always worth watching at this meeting and by declaring William Henry under top weight in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle, this has let in stablemate SOUL EMOTION (4.40) to race off a tempting10st 9lb burden.

The five-year-old was having his first start for Henderson since arriving from France when winning easily at Sandown following a wind op and although this quicker ground raises some concerns, Soul Emotion could be anything.

Henderson usually sends a good one north to contest the concluding bumper but sets a poser this year by running two unexposed horses. Sprinter Sacre (no less) made a winning debut in this event in 2010 and the yard mopped it up again with Pym 12 months ago.

The pick of his duo could be NEW MOON (5.50), the only colt in the field and the mount of Nico de Boinville. Sam Waley-Cohen rides the other one, Igor, so a market watch is advisable.

With rising star Tom Lacey having his horses in such great nick, his four-year-old Sebastopol is also worth a careful check as this son of Fame And Glory is bred to go a bit.

Recommended bets

• Ayr 4.05 – Sizing Tennessee ew (16-1, bet365)
• Ayr 4.05 – Vintage Clouds ew (12-1, bet365)
• Ayr 2.55 – Chesterfield ew (13-2, bet365)
• Ayr 2.55 – I’m A Game Changer ew (12-1, Paddy Power)
• Ayr 1.45 – Forest Bihan (8-1, Ladbrokes)
• Ayr 2.20 – Barney Dwan (6-1, Boylesports)
• Ayr 4.40 – Soul Emotion ew (4-1, bet365)
• Ayr 5.50 New Moon (3-1, Ladbrokes)

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