THE Scottish Grand National follows hot on the heels of the Aintree Festival last week.
And our star man Templegate has delivered his placepot picks.
The Placepot is a bet where you select a horse to be placed in the FIRST SIX races of any meeting.
You can pick more than one horse in a race – you just multiply the number of selections in each race to calculate your stake. So for staking it’s 2x1x2x1x2x2 which adds up to 16 lines.
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You can stake what you want upwards from 5p a line. 10p a line is £1.60 with our picks and so on.
Provided at least one in each race is placed, we get a payout!
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AYR SATURDAY PLACEPOT
LEG 1 Uncle Phil, Without Noise
UNCLE PHIL looks hard to beat after his excellent display of jumping to win at Fairyhouse in January. He’s best after a break and saves his best for this distance. Some cut in the ground is ideal and he can defy his rising mark.
SANS BRUIT took his form to a new level when winning the tough Red Rum Chase at Aintree last weekend. This is a quick turnaround from 10lb higher but he’ll be able to dominate in this small field and may take some catching.
LEG 2 Maclaine, Sharjah
MACLAINE was impressive when winning hard held at Newbury last time. He was always up with the pace and pulled clear as he liked up the run-in. He takes on stronger opposition here but has more to come.
SHARJAH is an interesting entrant for Willie Mullins. He was a high-class hurdler over 2m and hasn’t been beyond 2m4f as a chaser. If he is still there at the finish he could make his presence felt.
LEG 3 South Water, Bialystok
L’EAU DU SUD was just denied by an Ebor winner in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and can go one better here. He enjoyed some give in the ground at the Festival and when a close second in the Betfair at Newbury. A 3lb rise looks more than fair.
BIALYSTOK didn’t go on the track when down the County field and is likely to get a lot closer here. He was fourth at Grade 1 level before Christmas.
LEG 4 A Penny A Hundred
A PENNY A HUNDRED acquitted herself well when fourth in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 last time. She should have no problem with this longer trip and likes some cut in the ground. Paul Townend gets back on board today which is another plus.
LEG 5 Macdermott, Inis Oirr, Mr Incredible
MACDERMOTT is an 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.
INIS OIRR won the Edinburgh National last time like Lucinda Russell’s 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.
MR INCREDIBLE was 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.
LEG 6 Major Fortune, Welcom To Cartieres
MAJOR FORTUNE made it five wins on the spin at Lingfield last time and has plenty of staying power. Some cut in the ground is ideal.
WELCOM TO CARTIERES showed his quality with a good second in a Doncaster Grade 2 last time and has more to come for Paul Nicholls.
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