Ayr preview: Coral Scottish Grand National (15:45)
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Today’s big betting race is the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr (15;45) and, with the sponsors paying five places, Sego Success looks cracking each-way value in a typically wide-open and competitive renewal.
This Alan King trained gelding has only had four starts over fences, and opened his account at the second time of asking when getting the better of the useful If In Doubt over 3m 1f at Wetherby.
Sego Success followed-up in good style when beating Grand Vision and Deputy Dan with the minimum of fuss at Warwick, and was far from disgraced last time out when fifth of 17 to Cause Of Causes in the National Hunt Chase over 4m at the Cheltenham Festival.
The assessor has since dropped the seven-year-old 2lb to a mark of 141, and that puts him in this contest off a handy weight of 10st 5lb.
Those at the foot of the weights have a good record in this stamina sapping 4m 110 yard contest, and Sego Success has a similar profile to stablemate Godsmejudge, who landed the spoils in 2013 and finished runner-up last year.
Godsmejudge finished third in the National Hunt Chase before powering to victory two years ago, and Sego Success is still very unexposed over longer distances and open to bags more improvement.
Sego Success will also be suited the guaranteed furious end-to-end gallop and, with Wayne Hutchinson in the saddle, everything points to a huge run.
There are a plenty of dangers, and one that is definitely worth considering as an each-way alternative is Lie Forrit.
The 11-year-old is trained in Scotland by Kinross-based Lucinda Russell, who has dreamed of winning the race for a long time and came closest to doing so when Kerry Lads finished runner-up to Grey Abbey in 2004.
Lie Forrit has looked better than ever this season in winning three of his four starts, and put in an ultra-game effort last time out when beating Harry The Viking in the 3m 5f Grand National Trial at Haydock.
The pair pulled 19 lengths clear of the third home Monbeg Dude who has since gone on to run a cracker to finish third in the Crabbie’s Grand National to give the form a solid look.
Judge on that effort, Lie Forrit is a leading player in this and he would be a hugely popular winner.
Lie Forrit was ridden to success seven-times by Campbell Gillies, one of the most promising jockeys in the sport who sadly lost his life in a swimming accident whilst on holiday, and is owned by his grandfather John McNeill, uncle Crawford McNeill and mother Lesley.
