Weekend Winners - Scottish Grand National 2026

After an incredible Grand National Festival which had seemingly everything, attention now turns to the Scottish Grand National which, for the past few seasons, has been dominated by Willie Mullins as part of his Champion Trainer charge. However, this year he has met his match with Dan Skelton officially becoming Britain’s newest Champion Trainer for the very first time. 21 go to post on Saturday and here is my verdict on each of the runners.:

Blaze The Way

Ran well for a long way in the Ultima, finishing seventh, but prior to that had already beaten L’Homme Presse in a valuable handicap at the December meeting. Cheekpieces go on for the first time, and he must have a chance despite carrying the burden of top weight.

Quebecois

Like Blaze The Way, he too ran very well in the Ultima when finishing third behind Johnnywho, who franked that form in the National when a very gallant fourth. A five-pound rise looks harsh, and he is wrong at the weights with Blaze The Way, but he arrives here in solid form, having finished placed in his last three starts.

King Of Answers

Looks like one of the more solid contenders in the lineup, and it is easy to see why he has been towards the head of the market all week. Lucinda Russell’s seven-year-old has been progressing nicely in staying handicaps and finished like a train in the National Hunt Chase last time out. He looks the type who will relish a proper stamina test, and from his current mark, he has to be considered.

Isaac Des Obeaux

Paul Nicholls has targeted this race plenty of times, and this looks like one of his more interesting runners. Still relatively unexposed as a stayer and arrives here in good form, having won the Midlands Grand National in March. There is a strong chance there is more to come over this sort of trip, and he looks fairly treated for a horse still on the upgrade, given his handicap mark.

Our Power

Plenty of back class and no stranger to these marathon handicaps, but now an eleven-year-old and probably not quite the force of old. The first time blinkers are interesting, and he did finish third in this race last year. May be vulnerable to younger and better handicapped horses.

Road To Home

Willie Mullins relies solely on him this year as he looks to continue his winning record in the race, having won it with Captain Cody last year. He has been running consistently well in decent company without quite getting his head in front and finished agonisingly close behind Ask Brewster at the Cheltenham Festival. He ticks plenty of boxes for a race like this and has to be high on the shortlist.

Herakles Westwood

Has had a good season so far and has become a bit of a Cheltenham specialist, having run there four times this season. Not impossible, but others arrive with stronger and more reliable profiles.

Ask Brewster

He has won four of his last six starts, including at the Cheltenham Festival last time out when getting the better of Road To Home in a thrilling finish. This is another step up in class, but he is still relatively unexposed as a stayer and comes here with momentum on his side. Carries a workable weight and could easily keep progressing.

Katate Dori

Another who has not been firing consistently this season. There have been glimpses of ability, but his recent efforts suggest he is not as reliable as some of these. On a fair mark if bouncing back, but that does require a bit of faith, although his trainer certainly knows how to ready one.

Stolen Silver

A likeable type who has been around for a while, but this looks like a very stiff task now. His recent form does not inspire much confidence, and while he is capable on his old form, this sort of race demands everything to go right.

Famous Bridge

Course form is always a positive around Ayr, but his recent performances leave plenty to be desired. He has dropped to a dangerous mark but would need to show a fair bit more than he has of late. The track suits, but his current form makes him difficult to fancy with any real confidence.

Montregard

A really interesting runner who arrives here fresh following his Aintree performance. He looks the type who could improve again for this sort of test, and with only a four-pound rise to contend with, he still looks capable of going well. I fancy him to run a big race.

Maximilian

Very consistent without getting his head in front, which has been the story of his season. He keeps running solid races in decent company and should give another good account of himself here. The concern is whether he has the finishing kick to win one of these, and he has to turn the form around with King Of Answers having been beaten 18 lengths when they last met.

Gabbys Cross

He does not win very often but has amassed over £130,000 in prize money over his career. Since moving to Nick Schofield after his time with Henry de Bromhead, he has not managed to get his head in front, but is still often there at the finish, which is a testament to his attitude. Not without an each-way chance.

Kim Roque

No surprise to see him towards the head of the market. Still only a six-year-old and gets in here with a very light weight, which makes him extremely attractive. His run in the Kim Muir reads well, given the horses he was beaten by, and he looks the type who could improve again for this step up in trip. Big player.

Collectors Item

Has not shown enough in recent starts to suggest he is ready to win something like this. His form has been fairly inconsistent, and while he is not badly handicapped, others make far more appeal.

Git Maker

A familiar name in these staying handicaps and one who usually gives his running. He has been running respectably without quite threatening to win and looks set for another honest effort. Likely to stay on when others have cried enough, but may just find a few better treated.

Kap Vert

One of the more progressive types towards the bottom of the weights. Comes here in good form and looks to be going the right way. Still relatively unexposed as a stayer and could easily have more to offer over this sort of trip, though he is still inexperienced in races of this nature.

Promontory

Comes here on the back of bolting up at Leopardstown, which always catches the eye, but he has not been the most consistent. Certainly not one to completely rule out, but he is now 14lb higher in the ratings since that last victory.

Chasingouttheblues

Very interesting runner who arrives here in excellent form, having won three of his last four. Also has course form, which is a big plus and arrives here fresh from a short break. Ticks plenty of boxes, and it would not be a surprise to see this seven-year-old go off much shorter than his current price.

Magna Sam

He has plenty of experience in these races, but this looks like a strong renewal, and it is hard to see him being good enough unless things fall perfectly.