The Aintree Grand National may be the biggest, but it isn’t the only staying chase marathon to light up the springtime months. Hot on the heels of the Merseyside marvel, Ayr and Fairyhouse step into the spotlight to stage the Scottish and Irish versions of the race. Only seven days after the English event, Ayr takes centre stage with the biggest race of the Scottish racing season. Held over 4m, the trip isn’t as demanding as the Aintree extravaganza, nor are the fences as formidable. Nevertheless, stamina and jumping ability remain the key prerequisites for success in an event offering a handsome £200,000 in prize money.
23 runners and riders go to post in 2025 in a contest which may have a significant bearing on the race to become British Champion Trainer. With his eyes on the prize, Willie Mullins was expected to arrive mob-handed, and he duly does, with six runners making the trip over from Closutton. However, Dan Skelton holds the lead ahead of the Scottish Grand National Festival and will hope to stem the Mullins tide with his three challengers. The £112,540 in first-place prize money would come in handy for the title contenders, but they aren’t the only trainers in contention in a compelling edition of this huge betting heat.
Scottish Grand National: Confirmed Field of Runners and Riders
| Number | Horse | Jockey | Trainers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr Incredible | Alice Stevens | Sandy Thomson |
| 2 | Henry’s Friend | Ben Jones | Ben Pauling |
| 3 | Our Power | Dylan Johnston | Sam Thomas |
| 4 | Olympic Man | Mr P W Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 5 | Macdermott | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 6 | Famous Bridge | Sean Quinlan | Nicky Richards |
| 7 | Captain Cody | Harry Cobden | Willie Mullins |
| 8 | Surrey Quest | Kevin Brogan | Toby Lawes |
| 9 | Chosen Witness | Sean O’Keeffe | Willie Mullins |
| 10 | Spanish Harlem | Brian Hayes | Willie Mullins |
| 11 | Hasthing | Jonjo O’Neill Jr | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
| 12 | Rock My Way | Brendan Powell | Joe Tizzard |
| 13 | Sail Away | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton |
| 14 | Wiseguy | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 15 | Flash De Touzaine | Sean Flanagan | Liz Doyle |
| 16 | Walking On Air | Richie McLernon | Faye Bramley |
| 17 | The Kniphand | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 18 | Grozni | Callum Pritchard | James Owen |
| 19 | Dom Of Mary | Caoilin Quinn | David Bridgewater |
| 20 | Snipe | Harry Atkins | Dan Skelton |
| 21 | Klarc Kent | Jonathan Burke | Willie Mullins |
| 22 | Magna Sam | David Noonan | Alastair Ralph |
| 23 | Brandt | Sean Bowen | Cian Collins |
Highlights
Considering he saddled the 1-2-3-5-7 in the 2025 Aintree Grand National and the 1-4-5-6 in the 2024 edition of this race, it is no surprise that the Willie Mullins runners are generating the most attention.
Chosen Witness doesn’t stand out on form but is unexposed in this sphere and topped the market in the days before the race. Having won the 2024 edition, Macdermott boasts more obvious claims off a 5lb higher mark, whilst Captain Cody represents the unusual combination of Mullins and Paul Nicholls’ number one rider, Harry Cobden. Or perhaps the prize will fall to 2024 sixth Spanish Harlem, Klarc Kent, who finished fourth 12 months ago, or Olympic Man, who has the man of the moment, Patrick Mullins, in the saddle.
Mullins senior may lead the way in numbers, but several British trainers head north with high hopes. Hailing from the yard of Ben Pauling, Henry’s Friend won the Mandarin Chase at Newbury in fine style and looks like the sort who may enjoy this step up in distance.
This prize escaped the clutches of Colin Tizzard during his career and has thus far eluded his son, Joe Tizzard. Perhaps Rock My Way could be the horse to put that right. Only once finishing outside the first three in seven starts over fences, he arrives on the back of a staying-on second over 3m6f in the National Hunt Challenge Cup.
Surrey Quest, meanwhile, was the horse to come out on the wrong side of a photo finish in the 2024 edition of the Scottish National – going down by just a nose to Macdermott. Warming up with a third in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh, he’s 6lb higher in the weights this year, but that ability over course and distance should stand him in good stead.
British contenders keep stacking up as we move down the betting list. Walking On Air couldn’t deliver a dream result for connections at the Cheltenham Festival but is lightly raced over fences and makes his debut for Faye Bromley. And don’t rule out three-time Scottish Grand National winner Nigel Twiston-Davies, who sends the consistent The Kniphand into battle.
So far, and still no mention of Dan Skelton. If the Wiltshire handler bags a first Scottish Grand National in 2025, it will come as a surprise – at least to those who set the odds. Sail Away is the choice of Harry Skelton and looks the most likely of the Skelton trio, following a solid second over 3m at Warwick on his most recent outing. But even he is a big outsider.
Others to note include Wiseguy, who bids to hand Nicky Henderson a first win in the race, Dublin National winner Brandt, and Hasthing, who sports the famous green and gold of J P McManus.
