15:35 Ayr

Saturday 18 April 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1516:48

Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 9m 5.23s

Blaze The Way^p1³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 145

18/1

No mug over hurdles but chasing has transformed him, winning a handicap at Cheltenham in December. Respectable seventh of 22 in Ultima back at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) last month. Up in trip. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 624157

Quebecois^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| C

12/1

Won a handicap hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago and has taken well to chasing despite failing to get his head in front, finishing very good third of 22 in the Ultima at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) last month. Will surely win over fences before long but his stamina is a worry here.

Form: 1-24223

King Of Answers^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 143

9/2

Upwardly-mobile young chaser who won twice at Kelso this winter and advanced his form a good deal again when second of 17 in National Hunt Chase (handicap) at Cheltenham (3¾m, good to soft) 39 days ago. Likely capable of even better and makes obvious appeal for Scottish yard which won this in 2021.

Form: 2-51412

Isaac Des Obeaux^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139

17/2

Relished an extreme stamina test for the first time when 28/1 winner of the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4¼m, soft) 5 weeks ago, forging 8 lengths clear of Rock My Way. Should remain competitive off 7 lb higher, particularly should any further rain make the ground conditions more testing.

Form: 33-3121

Herakles Westwood³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 136

20/1

Successful over 25f at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but well behind a few of these in the Kim Muir at the Festival there since. Bounce back needed.

Form: 75-2410

Katate Dori^v,t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Dylan Johnston| T: S Thomas| OR: 135

22/1

Back at the top of his game when chasing home Herakles Westwood at Cheltenham (25f, good) on New Year's Day but not in the same form when only eighth when bidding for a second successive win in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton (3m) in February. Races beyond 3¼m for the first time.

Form: 1P-7628

Stolen Silver^t³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss O Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: G Nicholls| OR: 133

50/1

Very smart chaser at his best but lost his way for Sam Thomas last term and well beaten all 4 outings this season.

Form: 64-0P30

Famous Bridge^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 132| C

25/1

Talented handicap chaser at his best but pulled up in this 12 months ago and yet to fire this season. His stable could hardly have been in better form in recent weeks but a leap of faith is still required.

Form: 6P-7707

Maximilian⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: William Maggs⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 132WS

12/1

Smart novice hurdler in 2022/23. Very lightly raced since and not progressing over fences this season, looking lethargic again (went in snatches) when third of 5 in 3½m Haydock handicap 6 weeks ago. Has had a breathing operation since.

Form: P-22233

Gabbys Cross^p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Nick Scholfield| OR: 131| BF

40/1

Creditable efforts in defeat in veterans chases since joining Nick Scholfield but likely to prove vulnerable to some of the younger legs in this line-up.

Form: 0-43P22

Kim Roque³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130

4/1

French import who has been shaping up well for his current yard, caught too far back when running on for 8 lengths fourth of 23 to reopposing Ask Bewster and Road To Home in Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3¼m, good) latest. Definitely has bigger performances in him and gets the vote now up in trip again.

Form: 422454

Collectors Item^b³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

33/1

Dual chase winner last season. Encouraging reappearance at Chepstow (3m, good to soft) in December but has disappointed 3 times since, including pulling up in last month's Midlands National at Uttoxeter.

Form: P8-294P

Git Maker^b³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 129

10/1

Third in this in 2024 and looked back to somewhere like that form when 8¼ lengths third of 16 to Isaac Des Obeaux in Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4¼m, soft) 35 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 30-3P53

Kap Vert⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 129

20/1

Winning hurdler who has won a pair of small-field handicaps over 23f at Taunton since switching to fences. Yet to race beyond 3m so has stamina to prove in what is also by far the deepest race he's contested over the larger obstacles.

Form: 271341

Promontory⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Ms S J Connell| OR: 127

13/2

Opened his account over fences in 13-runner Dublin National at Leopardstown (3½m, soft) last month, shaping as if likely to stay even further still. May do better again.

Form: 0-70521

Chasingouttheblues^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 126| C

11/2

Made it 3 wins in his last 4 starts over fences when finding plenty to get on top towards the finish in a Go North series final at Carlisle (3m, good) 4 weeks ago. His run style suggests this increased stamina test should suit. Respected.

Form: 351211

Non-Runners

Our Power⁹³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 11

T: S Thomas J: Danny Gilligan

Road To Home³⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Non Runner

Ask Brewster³⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: Mrs C Williams J: Mr S Cotter

Montregard⁶³

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: T Lacey J: Stan Sheppard

Magna Sam¹¹⁷

Weight: 10-2| Age: 12

T: A Ralph J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Kim Roque (4/1), King Of Answers (9/2), Chasingouttheblues (11/2), Promontory (13/2), Road To Home (13/2), Isaac Des Obeaux (17/2), Git Maker (10/1), Montregard (10/1), Ask Brewster (10/1), Maximilian (12/1), Quebecois (12/1), Blaze The Way (18/1), Kap Vert (20/1), Herakles Westwood (20/1), Katate Dori (22/1), Our Power (25/1), Famous Bridge (25/1), Collectors Item (33/1), Gabbys Cross (40/1), Stolen Silver (50/1), Magna Sam (66/1)

KIM ROQUE has shaped well in some strong handicap chases since joining Joseph O'Brien, notably when running on from too far back to take fourth behind Ask Brewster and Road To Home in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival, and can become the third successive Irish-trained winner. King of Answers is another lightly-raced chaser who ran a corker at Cheltenham and is second choice ahead of the thriving Chasingouttheblues, who promises to be well suited by this marathon trip.