Last year's winner Joe Farrell is among the 67 entries for this year’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
The Rebecca Curtis trained ten year-old returned to form at Newbury on Saturday finishing second to Chic Name in a three mile two furlong handicap chase.
Although he holds an entry in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree, he looks more likely to head to Ayr to defend his crown. Last year’s runner up Ballyoptic, beaten only a nose, could re-oppose.
Among the other notable entries is Beware The Bear, winner of the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham earlier this month and the nine year-old is one of two Nicky Henderson trained horses entered for the £215,000 contest, the other being Vyta du Roc.
Crosshue Boy who won the inaugural running of the £100,000 three mile Novices’ Handicap Chase on Coral Scottish Grand National Day last year could make a return trip from Ireland to compete in the big race this year.
The Scottish based entries include Lucinda Russell’s Big River, fourth in the Cheltenham race won by Beware The Bear, and Geronimo from the Sandy Thomson yard.
West country trainer Colin Tizzard has Sizing Codelco and Royal Vacation entered while Paul Nicholls has three entries including Give Me a Copper part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and Jeremy Kyle.
The main supporting contest on the day, the £105,000 CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle has attracted 41entries with the 2016 winner Ch’tibello fresh from his success in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham the top rated.
Other entries include Tom George’s Summerville Boy, the Colin Tizzard trained Vision des Flos and Pinsghou, Nicky Henderson’s Verdana Blue, Brain Power and Angels Breath and Paul Nicholls Malaya.
