'She's in great form' - Christian Williams on his leading Scottish National duo

Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 4m | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

Christian Williams is proving himself a dab hand with long-distance chasers, and his two representatives in the 4m Coral Scottish Grand National both appear to have strong credentials.

The Welsh trainer enjoyed his first big-race triumph when Potters Corner landed the 4m2f Midlands National in 2019, and then sent out the same horse to take the 3m6f Welsh National later that year.

Williams was also on the mark in the 4m1f Eider Chase with Win My Wings at Newcastle in February, and he sends the stamina-packed mare on the long trip to Ayr along with ante-post favourite Kitty’s Light.

The six-year-old Kitty’s Light, who went close in the 3m5f bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last April, went on to finish second in Wetherby’s Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase, and has plenty to recommend him.

Williams said: "Both horses schooled on Tuesday and did their last piece of work on Wednesday. We came up to Ayr on Thursday, and everything is fine with them.

"Kitty’s Light was a bit unfortunate to bump into Cap Du Nord off 127 at Kempton last time. He ran a blinder that day and, although he has yet to win this season, has already grabbed £70,000 in prize-money. He deserves to win a race."

Williams is taking 7lb off the back of Win My Wings by utilising the claim of Robert James. The trainer added: "I couldn’t see the mare beating Kitty’s Light off an 8lb higher mark than her Newcastle win so I thought we’d claim off her and give her a real chance of competing.

"She’s in great form. I was thrilled with her win at Newcastle, and think there’s a bit of improvement to come."

'Fantastikas is right type for the race'

Nigel Twiston-Davies knows what it takes to win a Scottish Grand National, and there are high hopes at Grange Hill Farm the novice Fantastikas can give the trainer a fourth big-race Ayr success.

Twiston-Davies won Scotland’s biggest jumps race with the novices Captain Dibble (1992) and Earth Summit (1994) before sending out the more-experienced 11-year-old Hello Bud to score in 2009 under Paddy Brennan.

Fantastikas fits the profile of those first two winners as he has raced just five times over fences this season since switching from hurdles in November.

He romped home by seven and a half lengths at Lingfield off a mark of 128 over a distance just short of three miles, before finishing behind smart chasers Threeunderthrufive and L’Homme Presse in Grade 2 novice events at Doncaster and Cheltenham.

He won a valuable novice chase at Lingfield in January, and was by no means disgraced in finishing seventh of 24 behind Corach Rambler in Cheltenham’s Ultima Handicap Chase last month.

Fantastikas, who never finished out of the first three in five starts over hurdles, gives the strong impression he will be suited by the slower pace of an extreme stamina test around Ayr, and Twiston-Davies believes the horse will stay.

"He’s done very little wrong all season," the trainer said. "We’ve been very pleased with him. We’ve won the Scottish National twice with novices, and Fantastikas looks the right type for the race.

"He gives us the strong impression he'll improve for the step up in trip. We wouldn’t be running him if we didn’t think he’d get the distance."

Read all of Saturday's previews:

1.15 Ayr: Is it worth taking on the favourite Sebastopol in Listed handicap chase?

1.50 Ayr: His talent is undeniable - but can Dusart strike despite short turnaround?

2.25 Ayr: Expert analysis and key trainer quotes for the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr

2.45 Newbury: Which trainer thinks his mare will 'run a very big race' in Grade 2?

3.00 Ayr: 'It's a red-hot race' - novice chasers clash in Grade 2 Future Champions

3.35 Ayr: Runner-by-runner guide: key quotes and star ratings for Scottish Grand National

Is there another Poetic Flare lurking on trials day at Leopardstown?

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