Scottish Grand National Betting with William Hill

The Scottish Grand National takes place over 4m at Ayr in April and requires the jumping of 27 fences. It’s one of the four top staying handicaps of the season, along with the Welsh and Irish Nationals and the Aintree Grand National.

Scottish Grand National odds are available before the Aintree festival and there have been some very big-priced winners in recent years. Notable winners of this race include Red Rum (1974), Little Polveir (1987), Earth Summit (1994) and Grey Abbey (2004).

Scottish Grand National betting tips

Most Scottish Grand National winners in recent years had raced within the previous six weeks. Many of them had raced at least four times in the present season, securing one or more victories. Al Co was a notable exception in 2014 when he overcame a 104-day absence.

Stamina is a key factor for your Scottish Grand National betting tips, with most previous winners having won at least once over 3m or further. A previous run in this race or in the Welsh National can be useful experience too.

A rating of 133 or higher is usually needed to win the Scottish National. Class can also be a factor and horses with a previous win in a Graded race should be noted. Irish-trained runners have a dreadful record in the Scottish Grand National.

Paul Nicholls won the race for the first time with Belmont King in 1997, providing Tony McCoy with his only Scottish Grand National winner. Nicholls also trained Vicente for back-to-back victories in 2016 and 2017.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has been successful with Captain Dibble (1992), Earth Summit (1994) and Hello Bud (2009).

There has been a wide range of winning weights in recent Scottish Nationals. Vicente defied 11st 10lbs in 2017, 7lbs more than in his previous victory. Godsmejudge (2013) also carried 11st 3lbs, but most recent winners have been lightly-weighted. It’s worth studying the form of horses set to carry 10st 6lbs or less for your Scottish Grand National bets.

Scottish Grand National betting trends

f you’re looking at Scottish Grand National odds and trying to narrow down the runners, here are a few handy trends.

In some races, age can play a part, but in the Scottish Grand National, it’s had less significance. Since 2000, eight-year-olds have had the most joy, winning seven times, while 11-year-olds have only won three times.

It could help to look at the weight being carried by each runner. Since 2000, only Grey Abbey, in 2004, (11st 12lbs) and Vicente, in 2017, (11st 10lbs) have carried more than 11st 3lbs. So, it might be worth looking for a lightly-weighted horse.

Form over marathon trips is key. 2021 winner Mighty Thunder had already won the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh and finished second in the Midlands Grand National before his win at Ayr.

Other notable races to consider when studying the form are the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, the Eider Chase at Newcastle and the Classic Chase at Warwick – all require plenty of stamina to complete.

Keep an eye on the latest Scottish Grand National betting tips and news at news.williamhill.com.

Scottish Grand National ante-post betting pointers

It’s very rare for a horse to run in both the Aintree Grand National and the Scottish National in the same season. Vicente fell at the first in 2017 and was hastily re-routed to Ayr by Paul Nicholls. The Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster was used as a stepping stone to Ayr by Merigo when successful in 2010 and when runner-up in 2011.

There are often clues in the form of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Beshabar (2011) was runner-up in that race before his victory at Ayr. Godsmejudge (2013) finished third and Vicente (2016) finished fifth before winning here.

The Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown was won by Hot Weld after he won the Scottish National in 2007. Iris De Balme also ran in that race and finished fourth in 2008. Aurora’s Encore was beaten ahead in this race in 2012 and went on to win the Aintree Grand National at 66/1 in 2013.

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Scottish Grand National history and memorable winners

The race was first run in 1858 at a racecourse near Houston in Renfrewshire. It moved to Bogside in 1867 and was relocated to Ayr when that course was closed in 1966.

Red Rum carried 11st 13lbs to victory in the 1974 Scottish National following his second victory at Aintree. He would go on to win a record third Aintree Grand National in 1977 after finishing runner-up in 1975 and 1976.

Little Polveir won the Scottish National in 1987 and won at Aintree in 1989 on his fourth attempt.

Earth Summit won the 1994 Scottish Grand National when still a novice. He won the Welsh National at Chepstow in 1997 and became the first horse in history to win three of the four Nationals when winning at Aintree in 1998.

1996 winner Moorcroft Boy (20/1) didn’t feature in many Scottish Grand National betting tips, but his victory was still greeted with generous applause. He had recovered from a life-threatening injury at Aintree in the 1994 Becher Chase.

He retired to become the equine ambassador for the Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre, named in his honour.

Grey Abbey was another popular winner, trained by Howard Johnson and ridden by Graham Lee. The biggest cheers of all were reserved for Scottish-trained Merigo in 2010, the first home winner for 28 years.

Merigo returned to finish second in 2011, before adding a second triumph the following season.

Scottish Grand National betting 2021

The Scottish Grand National at Ayr is a test of jumping and stamina, with 27 fences over the four-mile trip. The race takes place in April, just a couple of weeks after the Grand National at Aintree.

The Ayr showpiece has had several notable winners, including the legendary Red Rum, who remains the only horse to win both races in the same year (1974).

Others to have won both races, but in different years, including Little Polveir (1987) and Earth Summit (1994).

Nicky Henderson has never won the Scottish Grand National, but he could have a leading candidate this year in Beware The Bear. The son of Shantou has always been talented but has looked a difficult ride on occasions.

Three-time winning trainer Paul Nicholls is always one to watch. Belmont King gave him his first winner in the race back in 1997, when Sir AP McCoy was in the saddle. More recently, Vicente went back-to-back, winning in 2016 and 2017.

And then there’s owner Trevor Hemmings. He enjoys runners in these top staying handicaps, so look out for his famous yellow and green quarter silks. Vicente wore them to victory in 2017, while Vintage Clouds (2018) and Cloth Cap (2019) both finished third.

Get the latest Scottish Grand National odds at William Hill and see if you can find the next winner. In 2021, Mighty Thunder kept the race on home soil by winning for trainer Lucinda Russell at odds of 8/1.

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