Which novice chasers remain in contention for the Scottish Grand National?

The £150,000 Coral Scottish Grand National (3.35) is Saturday’s highlight and although the race unusually falls before Aintree’s famous race a week later, novice chasers could still play a big part in the staying handicap chase.

Novice chasers have won three of the last five Scottish Grand Nationals and although Lucinda Russell ruled her Cheltenham Festival winner Corach Rambler out of contention, there is a handful entered for this season’s race. We take a look at the profile of a couple of them.

Nigel Twiston-Davies

Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the Scottish Grand National three times and has three candidates this season, although this seven-year-old is by far the least exposed of his contenders.

He has won two of his five starts over fences this season, including a valuable race at Lingfield’s Winter Million festival, while he also has smart Graded place form behind Threeunderthrufive and L’Homme Presse.

He put in a respectable performance at the festival to finish seventh in the Ultima Handicap Chase and could still have scope from his mark of 143.

Ashtown Lad
Dan Skelton

Ashtown Lad has faced no more than five rivals over fences in any of his four races, so the Ayr feature would represent a rather different test should Dan Skelton let him take his chance.

His Racing Post Rating of 148 on his last two starts suggests a mark of 140 may be reasonable and he has big-field experience over hurdles, having finished fourth of 19 in a handicap at Aintree last season.

Coral Scottish Grand National racecard and betting

And a few other novice chasers still entered . . .

Durham National winner started his novice chasing campaign last June, although he failed to fire on his last start in the Midlands National and was pulled up before two out. A two-week turnaround from that assignment would be a tough challenge.

Nestor Parkis experienced for a novice having got off the mark over fences only on his most recent start, his tenth over fences. That was over 2m6½f but he won going away in the closing stages and several performances have earned an RPR of 142, making his mark of 135 interesting.

Pat Fahy has indicated History Of Fashion will take his chance after gaining plenty of experience since his first run over fences in December. He was sent off just 6-1 for the Eider but unseated his rider.

Read more on the Scottish Grand National:

Lucinda Russell without Scottish National runner as Corach Rambler heads south

'We're not afraid to run more than one' - Christian Williams eyes next big prize

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