Scottish Grand National Betting Tips & Predictions
We’re coming to the end of the jumps season in Britain and after the Aintree National last week, it’s Ayr’s big day of the jumps season with the Scottish Grand National this Saturday.
Willie Mullins took the Scottish Grand National on his way to landing the Trainers’ Title last season and has no fewer than six runners for 2025’s renewal of the big race.
We’ve picked out our best bets for Saturday’s ITV races at Ayr including an each-way tip in the big race of the day.
1.10 Ayr - 2m½f Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) (5yo+)
Skelton and Mullins go head to head in the opener but it may be worth taking a chance on Malystic, whose career best came over this course and distance.
He’s not won since that course success on this card in 2023 but he’s dropped to a good mark and first-time cheekpieces may help spark a revival.
Selection: Malystic
1.43 Ayr - 3m CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase (Class 2) (5yo+)
Plenty of these have had busy seasons, but that’s not the case for Ideal Des Bordes who arrives fresh.
He was pulled up when last seen but was on a steep upward curve prior to that run, and he should appreciate the step back up in distance this time.
Returning from wind surgery here and with fewer miles on the clock than most of his rivals, he may be capable of outrunning his odds.
Selection: Ideal Des Bordes
2.15 Ayr - 2m Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) (Class 1) (4yo+)
It looks like a competitive renewal of the Scottish Champion Hurdle with a chance taken on Bunting.
He came in for some significant market support before pulling up at Cheltenham, but 2m5f has probably stretched his stamina, and he had previously looked like a progressive prospect in this sphere.
Selection: Bunting
2.55 Ayr - 3m½f UK Greentech Glasgow Seafield Trophy Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (4yo+)
A 6lb rise for Lavida Advia’s success in a Listed Mares’ Hurdle at Kelso looks lenient from the assessor, and she could be hard to beat in her follow-up bid.
It was no surprise that she relished a return to quicker ground given that she’s a daughter of Champs Elysees and she’s entirely unexposed at three miles so there should be more to come.
Brian Hughes, who rides this track as well as anyone, retains the ride and this mare looks like one of the stronger favourites on Scottish National Day.
Selection: Lavida Adiva
3.35 Ayr - 4m Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) (5yo+)
Willie Mullins took this race last year on his way to the 2024 Trainer’s Title, and he has a big chance of landing another renewal with his six runners for this year’s race.
The one that catches the eye is Olympic Man who was only beaten roughly five lengths by Dancing City on his chase debut and bounced back from a lesser run when making easy work of a beginners’ at Naas last time out.
He looks well treated from a mark of 142, and he’s entirely unexposed at this sort of distance so he may be capable of giving the trainer/son combination a quick-fire National double.
Selection: Olympic Man