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Ferdy Murphy is the trainer to follow.
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14/04/08
The Scottish Grand National at Ayr is often run on good ground as the gloomy Winter gives way to Spring and the weather starts to warm. Like all Nationals this is a handicap where the weight allocated for each runner is dependant on the previous runs of the horse.
The better horses carry the most weight. Most of the better horses find this extra weight too much to lug around 4 miles and we should be looking at horses carrying less than 11 stone. This years race looks a cracker with the top weight and Gold Cup 4th Halcon Genelardais far and away the horse with the best official BHB rating (169) at a current price of around 7/1 with Paddy Power.
The current favourite is Miko De Beauchene 6/1 with SkyBet a battler of a horse who can look beaten before rallying over the last furlong, this horse always responds to its jockeys urgings. It would also be an emotional win for the trainer who is currently recovering from a serious car crash.
As we peruse the 5 day entries we do need to be looking further down the list of runners. Trainer Alan King as well as the top weight has Old Benny 7/1 with Sky Bet a game winner at the Cheltenham festival where he took the valuable Amateur Riders Novices Chase.
Leading Man 20/1 with the sponsors Coral and Noir Et Vert a drifting 14/1 with Sportingbet represent the trainer with the best recent record in the race. Ferdy Murphy has won the National north of the border 3 times and both these horse have excellent chances.
Irish trainers often like a tilt at this race with lightly weighted improving types and this year their best hope looks like Patsy Hall. This horse trained by shrewd handler Tony Martin looks an ideal type and should be on any ones short list.
Advised : Old Benny 7/1 with SkyBet, Patsy Hall 12/1 with Sportingbet and Leading Man each way at 20/1 with Coral.
All prices correct at time of writing.
8/04/08
Trainer Ferdy Murphy has a sparkling record in the Scottish National. The Ayr race has been won 3 times in the last 10 years by the Yorkshire based trainer. He has entered Joes Edge 20/1 with SkyBet, Leading Man 16/1 with William Hill,and current second favourite Noir Et Vert 10/1 with Blue Square. All prices available at time of writing.
Previous Scottish National Winners:
2007 Hot Weld 8 9-9 14/1 Ferdy Murphy P J McDonald
2006 Run For Paddy 10 10-2 33/1 Carl Llewellyn Carl Llewellyn
2005 Joes Edge 8 9-11 20/1 Ferdy Murphy Keith Mercer
2004 Grey Abbey 10 11-12 12/1 J Howard Johnson G Lee
2003 Ryalux 10 10-5 15/2 A Crook Richard McGrath
2002 Take Control 8 10-6 20/1 M C Pipe R Walsh
2001 Gingembre 7 11-2 12/1 Mrs L C Taylor Andrew Thornton
2000 Paris Pike 8 11-0 5/1J Ferdy Murphy A Maguire
1999 Young Kenny 8 11-10 5/2F P Beaumont B Powell
1998 Baronet 8 10-0 7/1 D Nicholson A Maguire | 
Betting Previews
Scottish Grand National
