Saturday's Horse Racing Preview
Today's racing offers something to cater for everyone's taste as the £114,000 Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr takes centre stage. Newbury features trials for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas as well as its competitive Spring Cup, while there is also jump racing at Bangor-on-Dee and three more Flat meetings at Nottingham, Thirsk and Wolverhampton.
The two ante-post favourites for the four-mile stamina-testing Scottish National - Miko de Beauchene and Halcon Generalardais - fought out the finish of the Welsh equivalent on heavy ground back in December, but both carry plenty of weight and will not relish the firmer conditions today.
There are plenty of positives for Ferdy Murphy's Noir et Vert, specially prepared for this race and exceptionally well-in at the weights. He holds a striking chance at odds of around 11-1 and will also have the assistance of 17-year-old Campbell Gillies, the youngest rider ever in a Scottish National. Three lively outsiders, though, could be Wild Cane Ridge, Flintoff - co-owned by namesake Andrew - and Ossmoses if he handles the ground.
A guaranteed record crowd at Ayr can also enjoy the Scottish Champion Hurdle in which Takeroc and Heathcote could be in the shake-up. Former Supreme Novices hurdler Noland now takes on the fences and is expected to carry off the Champion Novices' Chase.
At Newbury, the going will be a lot softer, so stamina as well as speed will be required in the two Classic trials. In the Greenham Stakes, Confront, who last season beat this week's Free Handicap winner Stimulation, looks really useful, goes on the ground and will be a warm favourite, with Gimcrack winner Sir Gerry perhaps the one to test him.
Meanwhile, in the fillies' Fred Darling Stakes, John Dunlop's Muthabara has not been out since last July and despite her obvious class, will be hard pressed by Michita from the red-hot John Gosden stable. Mick Channon also reckons his Nahoodh to be in great form and is looking to see a big race from her.
The Spring Cup is the usual lottery, but Benandonner and Mine could take a hand in the finish.
Thirsk and Bangor have afternoon starts, while Nottingham and Wolverhampton offer evening Flat racing - and tomorrow sees the opening of Britain's first new racecourse since 1927 at Great Leighs in Essex.
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