TOP TRAINERS

Nicky Henderson

Nicky regularly makes the journey south from his Seven Barrows base in Upper Lambourn to Ayr for the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival and he has been rewarded with many winners over the years, Verdana Blue in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle in 2019 and Theinval in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase in 2019 and 2021. Nicky’s intended runner in the Coral Scottish Grand National is Dusart who won the CPMS Novices’ Chase on the card last year This afternoon he is represented by the lightly raced Persian Time in the Quiz Clothing Novices’ Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls

Paul has six runners this afternoon including top weight Saint Calvados in the feature race, the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase, a race he last won back in 2012 with The Knoxs. Sabrina is the stable’s representative in the Coral Racing Club Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle and Paul has an outstanding chance of saddling the first winner of the Festival with Afadil in the Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle.

Dan Skelton

Dan is one of the leading trainers in the country, currently in second place in the Trainers’ Championship to Paul Nicholls and he has a fantastic record at this Festival including on the opening day having trained four of the last five winners of the Hillhouse Handicap Chase. He doesn’t have a runner in the Hillhouse this year but has a few runners with good chances today including Get A Tonic in the Coral Racing Club Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. The seven-year-old won the race last year and will be fancied to go close again.

Sandy Thomson

Sandy comes to the Festival with a strong group of horses and will be hoping to be among the winners today Bass Rock runs in the Raymond Anderson Green silks in the feature contest, the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase and War Soldier is an interesting contender in the opening race, the Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle. Sandy runs Empire Steel and Flower Of Scotland in tomorrow’s Coral Scottish Grand National, a race in which he has gone close in the past with Dingo Dollar second in 2021 the same year as The Ferry Master was fourth and with Seeyouatmidnight third in 2016

Nicky Richards

The master of Greystoke near Penrith has an excellent record at Ayr and saddled Takingrisks to win the Coral Scottish Grand National in 2019 A win that gave him great joy as his father Gordon won the race with Playlord in 1969 and Four Trix in 1990 He comes here this afternoon on the back of a very impressive winner in the last race at Aintree on Saturday with Florida Dreams. His runners today are Aubis Walk in the Coral Racing Club Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle and Snowy Clouds in the Seko Logistics Scotland Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Lucinda Russell

The trainer of the moment Lucinda comes here after saddling the brilliant Corach Rambler to win the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, six years after she won the legendary race with One For Arthur Her yard is in fantastic form and she has a strong hand of runners this afternoon including Traprain Law in the opening Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle and Aurora Thunder in the Coral Racing Club Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

Olly Murphy

Olly is a fine young trainer who has a good strike rate at Ayr, and has a good chance of adding to that today when he runs Hourvari in the Quiz Clothing Novices’ Hurdle at 2.25pm. This horse has won his last two starts at Lingfield and Market Rasen and should run a huge race in what is a highly competitive five runner contest.

Donald Mccain

Donald is enjoying another tremendous season and will be hoping for a successful Coral Scottish Grand National Festival. He will he hoping to get the meeting off to a winning start with Forcing Bull who is two from two over hurdles and lines up in the Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle. Donald’s runner in today’s feature race the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase is Richmond Lake who runs in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings.

TIGHT RACE FOR JOCKEYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

A mere five points separates the leading five jockeys in the race to be top jockey for the 2022-2023 season at Ayr.

Sean Quinlan and Bruce Lynn sits on 37 points, with Brian Hughes on 35, Danny McMenamin 34 and Daryl Jacob on 32. All five are in action over the next two days so there is all to play for.

Lucinda Russell holds a nine point lead in the Trainers Championship with 64 points compared to Nick Alexander’s 55 Stuart Crawford is third on 41 points.

In the Owners Championship Simon Munir and Isaac Souede lead by 14 points from Mr and Mrs Duncan Davidson.

About 2 miles

Race Starts

RACE 1 - 1.15PM

Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) 2m

RACE 2 - 1.50PM

Largs Ladies LWOB Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) 3m 70y

RACE 3 - 2.25PM

Quiz Clothing Novices’ Hurdle (Class 3) 2m 4f 100y

RACE 4 - 3.00PM

Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m 4f 110y

RACE 5 - 3.35PM

Coral Racing Club Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 3m 70y

RACE 6 - 4.10PM

Seko Logistics Scotland Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)2m 110y

RACE 7 - 4.45PM

Thistle Cabs Group Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) 3m 70y