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2026 Scottish Grand National pinstickers' guide: runners, tips and Keith Melrose's ratings for every runner
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A field of 16 runners will go to post for Scotland's answer to last week's Grand National, which is one of the biggest betting races of the year in its own right. Who will win the Scottish Grand National (3.35)? Read our runner-by-runner guide, featuring top quotes and star ratings for the big race live on ITV at 3.35pm.
1. Blaze The Way
Keith's view: The Mullins second-string this year, even if he is not trained by Willie. Being ridden off the pace hurt his chance at Cheltenham last time, when he also got tired over a trip that is a mile shorter than this. It's not certain how the cheekpieces will help, either. Could still have a big one in him, but maybe not under these conditions.
Star rating: **
Trainer's view: Mags Mullins: "He's in good form so we're hoping for a clear round and will see how he goes. We're happy with him. The trip is new territory, but he stayed well over three miles two furlongs at Cheltenham in December so we're hopeful.”
2. Quebecois
Keith's view: His owner sponsors the Cheltenham Festival race he finished third in, and that will have been his main target. He was less than a length behind last week's Grand National fourth that day, so his claims are obvious if you can look past this being a bonus spin. The stronger of Paul Nicholls' two runners.
Star rating: ****
Trainer's view: Paul Nicholls: “He ran really well at Cheltenham and the form is working out okay. Will he get the trip? Who knows, but he’s bred to do so.”
3. King Of Answers
Keith's view: Scotland's big hope, for the same yard that won the race in 2021. They love to have a Scottish National horse, and he looked to be the one when winning at Kelso in February. That impression hardly went away when he finished second at the Cheltenham Festival, but he will need to be ridden with a bit more dash.
Star rating: ***
Joint-trainer's view: Michael Scudamore: “He ran very well at Cheltenham and seemed to improve for the step up in trip. He has a lot of weight to carry, but the softer ground won’t worry him.”
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4. Isaac Des Obeaux
Keith's view: Won last month's Midlands Grand National, which is to my mind the most stamina-sapping race on the calendar these days. It would need a pretty special effort to dust himself down and win another four-mile slog, but a five-week gap between the races helps – as does being trained by Paul Nicholls.
Star rating: ***
Trainer's view: Paul Nicholls: “Any more rain will help. He won the Midlands National nicely and has gone up 7lb for it. If it came up really soft, that would suit him.”
5. Our Power
NON-RUNNER
6. Road To Home
NON-RUNNER
7. Herakles Westwood
Keith's view: Wins less than you feel he ought to, but part of that is down to his connections continuing to run him at Cheltenham. Won there on New Year's Day, but was well behind Ask Brewster, Road To Home and Kim Roque at the festival last time.
Star rating: **
Trainer's view: Warren Greatrex: “He’s done well this season apart from disappointing at Cheltenham last time. Maybe it was because he hadn’t run for a while, or perhaps the ground was too quick. I’m not sure. He’s been working well and the step up to four miles will really help him. He’s very straightforward.”
8. Ask Brewster
NON-RUNNER
9. Katate Dori
Keith's view: Could do no wrong in early-2025, shooting through the ranks and landing a premier handicap within two months of his first run over fences. The magic has rather been lost since, his best effort this season being a second to Herakles Westwood at Cheltenham.
Star rating: **
Trainer's view: Sam Thomas: “He went up in the weights after his achievements last season. We’ve got him back in good form, and I’m looking forward to seeing him run.”
10. Stolen Silver
Keith's view: Go back two and a half years and he might have been good enough to win this race. Hard to see how he makes any impression now, though; unless he steals it.
Star rating: *
Trainer's view: Georgina Nicholls: “He retains lots of ability, and has been in good form at home. Olive [Nicholls] gets on really well with him. The ground won’t make too much of a difference to him – he's won on good and soft.”
11. Famous Bridge
Keith's view: Deadly at Haydock, and showed he can handle extreme tests when passing the post first in a marathon there last year. Has struggled since, which is the main drawback, although his trainer could get a win out of the stable cat with the form he's in.
Star rating: **
Trainer's view: Nicky Richards: “He’s had a bit of a middling season, really. He ran a nice race for a long way at Cheltenham last time on the back of what wasn’t the best of preparations. He’s in grand order and has experienced no setbacks this time. If he gets into a good rhythm in the first half of the race, he’ll run well.”
12. Montregard
NON-RUNNER
13. Maximilian
Keith's view: Is at least consistent in his level of performance, but when it's time to dig in he carries his head like the queen at a sewage works. That explains the string of seconds and thirds on his CV. Would be a minor surprise if he keeps up that run, and a bigger one if he were to actually win a Scottish National.
Star rating: *
Trainer's view: Donald McCain: “We’ve always expected him to be suited by an extreme test of stamina. He’s fit and well, and there aren’t many miles on the clock. The ground will be fine for him.”
14. Gabbys Cross
Keith's view: Represents an up-and-coming trainer, and has held his form admirably since joining from one of Ireland's top yards. Still without a win in Britain, though, and his haphazard jumping in a three-runner race last time tells you why. Sean Bowen is a magician, but even he might struggle to conjure a Scottish National win from this horse.
Star rating: **
Trainer's view: Nick Scholfield: “It's nice to have a runner in such a high-profile race. He'll be staying on well at the end. He would have to put up a career best to win it, but hopefully we can get some prize-money.”
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15. Kim Roque
Keith's view: Has run well without winning in four different big handicaps since joining Joseph O'Brien. Gave them a bit of a head start at Cheltenham last time, so it is reasonable to suggest this six-year-old might improve past Ask Brewster and Road To Home. Doing so would probably require a slightly bolder ride.
Star rating: ****
Trainer's view: Joseph O'Brien: “He had a good run at Cheltenham and we think he'll be happy with the distance. The ground looks like it's going to be suitable, so we're hoping for a good run in what looks a competitive race.”
16. Collectors Item
Keith's view: Blows hot and cold, but is well handicapped on form that is really not a distant memory. Ran well in another spring marathon last year and it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he did the same here. Whether he does or not is entirely at his own whim.
Star rating: ***
Joint-trainer's view: AJ O'Neill: “He’s been in very good form since his run in the Midlands National. He likes these staying races and should enjoy the soft ground – it’s certainly been raining for much of the way on the drive up.”
17. Git Maker
Keith's view: Paul Kealy really fancied this ten-year-old, who was third in the 2024 Scottish National, for the Midlands version last time, in which he travelled well and finished third. The case that day was based on him being better in deep ground, which he is unlikely to get here, while the horse he was two years ago would have dotted up that day. A place seems about the best he can do.
Star rating: **
Trainer's view: Jamie Snowden: “The softer the better for him. He was third in the Midlands National on his latest start, which was the first time he had enjoyed proper soft ground since finishing second to Inothewayurthinkin at Cheltenham two years ago. I think he’ll run a big race at a nice price.”
18. Kap Vert
Keith's view: If you fancy Montregard, as I do, then you need to give this horse a look at much bigger odds. He has some form overlap with that rival, then shaped as though a real test of stamina would suit when winning over short of three miles at Taunton – a speed-favouring track – last time. He has clearly been lined up for a spring marathon and deserves more respect than his odds are giving him.
Star rating: ****
Joint-trainer's view: Philip Hobbs: “We've never won the race but have had a second in it and it's a race won by novices, so we've plenty going for us. He's down the right end of the handicap and should like the trip.”
19. Promontory
Keith's view: Bred for long-distance handicap chases and confirmed as much when winning the Dublin National last time. He was his yard's first winner when he won in April last year, but you would not know his trainer's inexperience from how this horse has been plotted towards this race. A genuine contender, and a major story if he pulls it off.
Star rating: ***
Trainer's view: Sarah Connell: “He's been good since Leopardstown. He enjoyed the step up in trip there and I don't see why he wouldn't stay that bit further. He didn't run until he was eight but he's had nine starts. He's going into it as a novice but he's entitled to be there, and he has a nice weight despite a big hike for his last win."
20. Chasingouttheblues
Keith's view: Has won three of his last four, and was second to a Cheltenham-bound novice the other time. His underrated trainer had a treble on Thursday, and the way he came up Carlisle's imposing hill last time you would think he will stay eight miles, never mind four. An each-way contender.
Star rating: ***
Trainer's view: Mark Walford: "The ground looks like it'll be okay for us and he's on an upward curve. Novices have a good record in the Scottish National; it suits horses on the upgrade, which he is. There are a lot of good, hardened, experienced handicappers in there, but there's a chance he'll have more in his locker. We've always felt there's a decent race in him, but I wanted to run him in only one big one this year.”
21. Magna Sam
NON-RUNNER
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Keith Melrose's Scottish Grand National 1-2 prediction
1 Kap Vert
2 Quebecois
What time is the Scottish Grand National and how can I watch it?
The 2026 Coral Scottish Grand National will be shown live on ITV and Racing TV in Britain at 3.35pm on Saturday.
What is the ground at Ayr for the Scottish Grand National?
The going description for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr was changed to heavy, soft in places on Saturday morning following heavy rainfall on Friday. Thatg has since led to five non-runners in the big race with Montregrad, Our Power, Road To Home, Magna Sam and Ask Brewster all ruled out.
Who is the favourite for the Scottish Grand National 2026?
Kim Roque, for Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien and Scottish owner Ronnie Bartlett, is favourite to land the Scottish Grand National under jockey JJ Slevin. The six-year-old has yet to win in Britain or Ireland, but has run some eyecatching races in defeat this season and was backed into favourite earlier this week.
Full racecard: 3.35 Ayr (Saturday, April 18): Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase racecard and betting
Read more:
2026 Scottish Grand National at Ayr: the runners, the odds, the verdict
Scottish Grand National predictions & tips: why this horse can win
Who will win the 2026 Scottish Grand National based on previous trends?
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