Fresh Ayr set fair for Scottish Grand National day

Just seven days after a heavy-ground Grand National at Aintree, conditions will be very different for the Scottish equivalent.

There has been no rain at Ayr since Tuesday and runners in the Coral Scottish Grand National and QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle will be racing on fresh ground after overnight rails movement.

"We're taking down the false rail so it's fresh ground on the whole of the hurdles track and the bends on the chase track," said clerk of the course Graeme Anderson. "It's not been raced on since November."

The ground was officially good, good to soft in places on Friday night, and Anderson added: "The forecast is for it to get up to 15C/16C on Saturday, with no rain until Sunday."

A warm day on Friday could result in conditions quickening at Newbury, where the first day of the Greenham meeting took place on ground described as good to soft, soft in places.

Jockey Martin Dwyer said it was on the slow side of good, while Sean Levey added: "It's drying out all the time, but it felt lifeless."

Saturday's forecast is for sunny spells and highs of 21C.

Ayr Saturday card and betting

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