2023 Scottish Grand National confirmed runners and riders

Kitty's Light will face 22 rivals on Saturday as he seeks to deliver Christian Williams a second victory in the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (3.35) at Ayr.

The Eider Chase winner finished runner-up in the race last year behind stablemate Win My Wings and is a short-priced favourite to go one better this year under regular rider Jack Tudor.

The field was whittled down from 31 entries to 23 at Thursday's declaration stage, with chief rival Monbeg Genius remaining in contention for the £200,000 contest having been well backed at the start of the week.

Lucinda Russell, who is also on the hunt for a second success in the race, will saddle 2021 winner Mighty Thunder just a week after landing victory at Aintree with Corach Rambler, with dual Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox set to partner stablemate and 9-1 shot Your Own Story.

Coral's David Stevens said: "Although we don't have a full field of 30 for this year's Coral Scottish Grand National, we do have a fiercely competitive renewal that will once again ensure the race features prominently in the highest turnover list come year end.

"Kitty's Light remains favourite to go one place better than 12 months ago, but only just, with Monbeg Genius the best-backed horse this week."

The reduced field means the Sue Smith-trained Small Present makes the cut and will carry a bottom weight of 10st 2lb, while top weight will be shouldered by Dusart, who represents Nicky Henderson's first runner in the race for four years.

Colonel Mustard: will go back over hurdles for the Scottish Champion HurdleCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The undercard at Ayr will include a field of 12 for the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.25), with Anna Bunina bidding for back-to-back victories in the 2m handicap. Morebattle runner-up Colonel Mustard also stands his ground alongside 2021 winner Milkwood and Tolworth third Nemean Lion.

Scilly Isles runner-up Balco Coastal heads seven runners for the Grade 2 Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices' Chase (3.00), which will not feature the well-fancied Turners second Notlongtillmay following declarations.

The contest also marks a return to Ayr for Rachael Blackmore, who will bid for her first success at the track on Telmesomethinggirl for Henry de Bromhead.

Watering began at Ayr on Thursday morning in the face of a dry forecast and windy conditions, with gales of up to 25mph expected for the opening day of the meeting on Friday.

Clerk of the course Graeme Anderson predicts showers may hit the track for Scottish National day but are likely to arrive after racing concludes on Saturday.

"We're good to soft, good in places at the moment and we're watering to maintain that ground for the start of racing on Friday," he said.

"As soon as good crept into conditions, with this dry forecast, we just didn't want it to dry out on Friday. We wanted it a little easier, and if it dries out for Saturday that's perfect, but it dries very quickly here.

"Currently it's sunny and should be again on Friday but there will be quite a strong breeze, it's meant to go up to 25mph. Saturday will be overcast and also windy, there's a chance of a few drizzly showers but certainly no significant rain is forecast until Saturday night, so hopefully we'll miss it."

Scottish Grand National confirmed runners and riders

1. Dusart Nico de Boinville
2. Threeunderthrufive Adrian Heskin
3. Monbeg Genius Non-runner
4. Empire Steel Ryan Mania
5. Elvis Mail Non-runner
6. Kitty’s Light Jack Tudor
7. Malina Girl Sean Flanagan
8. Undersupervision Sam Twiston-Davies
9. Ruthless Article Tom Bellamy
10. Lord Accord Richie McLernon
11. Flash Collonges Harry Cobden
12. Cooper's Cross Sam Coltherd
13. Cap Du Nord Nick Scholfield
14. Flash De Touzaine  Richard Deegan
15. Manothepeople Paddy Brennan
16. Famous Bridge Non-runner
17. Your Own Story Derek Fox
18. Waitnsee Non-runner
19. Magna Sam Alex Edwards
20. Mighty Thunder Patrick Wadge
21. Flower Of Scotland Non-runner 
22. Half Shot Conor O'Farrell
23. Small Present Sean Quinlan

3.35 Ayr (Saturday, April 22): Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase

Coral: 9-2 Kitty's Light, 5 Monbeg Genius, 9 Your Own Story, 12 Malina Girl, 14 Empire Steel, Flash Collonges, 16 Dusart, Flower Of Scotland, Manofthepeople, Undersupervision, 18 Elvis Mail, Threeunderthrufive, 20 bar

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Scottish Grand National tip and 1-2-3 prediction

1 Malina Girl
2 Monbeg Genius
3 Kitty's Light

By Stuart Redding, tipster

Vanillier went close for Gavin Cromwell in the Grand National and he has a decent chance of landing the Scottish equivalent with Malina Girl. She was badly hampered by a faller when pulling up at Leopardstown in February but showed extreme stamina tests suit with a career best win at Downpatrick recently. Monbeg Genius looks the pick of the home team.

Malina Girl15:35 Ayr

View Racecard

Jky: Tnr: Gavin Cromwell

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