Horse Power: Macdermott to win Scottish Grand National at Ayr
MACDERMOTT can win the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.50pm) at Ayr on Saturday afternoon.
Having won the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse with I Am Maximus last weekend, British trainers’ championship-chasing Willie Mullins can land another in the feature race at the Scottish track with Macdermott.
With that National victory and others over the three days at Aintree, Irish handler Mullins now has a big chance of pipping Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls to the British title, so everything he sends across the Irish Sea is worth noting. He has six runners in the Scottish National and all have some sort of chance although the two most likely Macdermott and Spanish Harlem, with the former a progressive younger chaser who seem to be doing well in the marathon contests these days. Although the last six-year-old to win the 4m Ayr contest was Earth Summit – who went on to win at Aintree and in the Welsh National as well – in 1994, Macdermott can buck the trends to triumph.
Macdermott won his first start over fences on his fifth outing in fine style, stepped up to an extended three miles in a Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse at the start of the month, he ran out an impressive 12-length winner over Better Times Ahead. Clearly the step up in trip brought out plenty of improvement and on his first start over this marathon distance, he can continue his progress again to give Mullins the big pot and potentially an unassailable lead in the title contest. If Macdermott doesn’t win another improving six-year-old from the Closutton stable, Spanish Harlem, might. He is another who is stepping up in distance markedly and may improve for it.
Others who may go well are recent Midlands Grand
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