TEMPLEGATE takes on the big one on Saturday confident of having found the winner – which could prove crucial in the trainers’ title race.
Willie Mullins, Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls are all going hell for leather to claim the crown.
PADoes it all point to Willie Mullins landing another Grand National?[/caption]
The £200,000 Ayr feature could have a huge say in the outcome.
Here, Templegate goes through every runner, rates their chances out of five (one the worst, five the best) and reveals his tip and 1-2-3-4 prediction at the bottom.
Don’t forget you can back any horse in the 3.35pm race by clicking their odds below.
Scottish Grand National runner-by-runner guide
STAY AWAY FAY 3
WILL Fay stay? Strong at 3m and trainer Paul Nicholls thinks he’ll stay. Has lots of weight but has held his own in good races and no surprise if he hits the frame.
MR INCREDIBLE 4
IN the hunt. Second in Midlands Nash and unseated at The Chair at Aintree last week. Has lots of staying power and these easier fences will help. No surprise to see him bounce back for Willie Mullins.
ELVIS MAIL 3
MAIL no snail. Comes here in form and shapes like trip will suit. Would like more rain as best form in the mud but no forlorn hope.
BEAUPORT 3
PORT fine. Career-best to win the Midlands National last time and a 5lb rise is fair. Staying will clearly be no issue and he has an each-way chance again even though he can make errors.
ONTHEROPES 1
OFF On. Last won a race in 2021 and has shown little this season. Comes from Willie Mullins but hard to fancy other than that.
SPANISH HARLEM 4
HAR star. Willie Mullins’ No1 rider Paul Townend’s has picked him which is a tip itself. Has decent form over shorter but shapes like a marathon will suit. Fair weight, more rain would help. Solid.
GOLD CUP BAILLY 2
EMPTY Cup. Small-field winner here twice which is a plus but his best form has been over 3m. Tall order after a whole year off.
IRON BRIDGE 3
IRON clad. Welsh National second in the mud last year but poor in Midlands version latest. Will stay and best form makes him a place contender. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill does well with stayers.
WHISTLEINTHEDARK 1
WHISTLE for it. Decent over shorter trips but has struggled to stay this season including in the Kim Muir at CHeltenham last time. Likely to run out of gas.
BALLYGRIFFINCOTTAGE 3
ON The Ball. From the title-chasing Skeltons and he has been in solid form especially when second at Sandown latest. Likes to weave his way through so will need some luck but won’t be far away.
MACDERMOTT 5
BIG Mac. Improving stayer from Willie Mullins who was impressive in scoring by 12 lengths at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Is up the weights but has been backed and looks capable of improvement under Danny Mullins who was on board last time.
TOMMIE BEAU 2
NO Beau. Solid third in the marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle last time. All wins have been a lower levels and he’s likely to find a few too good in this.
BROKEN HALO 2
HALO slipped. Back to form for Paul Nicholls when winning at Taunton last month. Stays well and has a fair weight but this is a lot tougher. Best on testing ground.
MR VANGO 3
VAN motors. Solid run at Cheltenham Festival after winning Devon National at Exeter. Is 15lb higher than that so will need to find more but this stamina test looks ideal.
AUTONOMOUS CLOUD 3
CLOUD needs rain. Solid fourth in Midlands National after pulling up in Welsh. Best form in the mud so rain would help and he’s capable of running a big race if he gets his favoured conditions.
ANGLERS CRAG 3
SHARP Crag. Made it four wins on the spin in the Eider last time despite a late mistake. Is all stamina and even an 8lb rise keeps him right in the hunt. He has more to come especially if jumping better.
INIS OIRR 4
OIRR to play for. Lucinda Russell’s hope won the Edinburgh National last time like here 2021 winner Mighty Thunder and he has untapped potential in marathon chases like this. Looks certain to stay and handles any ground. Looks the pick of the British challenge at a fair each-way price.
MY SILVER LINING 4
SILVER deserves a medal. Surely the most honest chaser in training who always gives her all. Cracking third in Midlands National despite losing a shoe and won the tough Classic Chase at Warwick in January. Likes it soft and capable of running into the frame again.
GIT MAKER 3
GIT a hit. Did well in small fields earlier this season before taking a huge step up when second in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last time. A 1lb rise for that is very fair and he has more to offer in marathons.
SURREY QUEST 2
SORRY Surrey. Won twice around three miles before a blip in the Great Yorkshire Chase last time. Likes some cut in the ground and stays well but needs his best.
KLARC KENT 2
KENT sent. Another Mullins hope who has only won a bumper but went close over fences at Fairyhouse last month. Open to improvement but needs to prove his stamina.
WHACKER CLAN 3
WHACKER can hit it. Good third in the Kim Muir although he walked up the hill and respected with Rachael Blackmore on board. Looks on a fair weight and another place contender.
EGBERT 2
EG will crack. Has won over three miles and wasn’t disgraced at Kempton last time. Has his sights raised here by Alan King and likely to come up short.
PUNITIVE 2
NO Pun intended. Some signs of a revival when third at Ffos Las last month but has been in poor form for a while and would be a surprise if he figures here.
SECRET REPRIEVE 1
SECRET out. More than three years since his last win and he looked pretty rusty when sixth at Sandown after 12 months off. Stays well but needs to come on for that run.
WE’LLHAVEWAN 3
WAN to watch. Was second favourite when sixth in the Irish National for Willie Mullins last time. He didn’t get home in the mud there and better conditions here would help. Can’t be ruled out coming from his stable.
Templegate’s tip and 1-2-3-4 prediction
1st Macdermott
2nd Spanish Harlem
3rd Inis Oirr
4th My Silver Lining
WILLIE the conqueror can take a step closer to the British trainers’ crown by landing a National double.
Genial genius Mullins had a Grand win at Aintree last week and can follow up in today’s £200,000 Coral Scottish National with MACDERMOTT (3.35 Ayr, nap).
Closutton destroyer Mullins, 67, has five in the race, and has strong back-ups with Mr Incredible and Spanish Harlem.
Inis Oirr looks the pick of the home team for local hero Lucinda Russell.
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