Montregard set to win Ayr's Scottish Grand National

CHRIS WRIGHT AIMS TO BE FIRST PAST THE FINISHING POST WITH TODAY'S TOP TIPS

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MONTREGARD can secure victory in the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.35pm) at Ayr this afternoon.

After last week's Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse was won for a joint-record fourth time and third-in-a-row by Irish trainer Willie Mullins, the Brits may hit back in Scotland with the Tom Lacey-trained improving seven-year-old. Although it is likely to be a similar result as at Aintree with powerful Irish owner JP McManus whose fourth victory with I Am Maximus last week saw him becoming the winning-most owner in the world's greatest steeplechase likely to see his famous green and gold silks carried to another National success.

Montregard looks the type of young improving staying chaser that have done so well in the Scottish Grand National over the years. He may be only seven but he has plenty of experience over the big obstacles, winning four times in 10 starts. And he looks like the step up to this marathon trip of four miles can bring out even more improvement.

The gelded son of Joshua Tree was pulled up at Kempton over Christmas but in his other five starts over the past 12 months he has run with great credit, winning three times and being runner-up on his other run.

Montregard won at Worcester last May and returned from a near six-month break to score again in three-mile handicap chase at Ascot towards the end of November. He was second behind the highly-regarded The Jukebox Kid back at Ascot in January before returning to winning ways over the same course and distance when landing the Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase in February.

Stepped up in trip and on the likely decent ground he will encounter, Montregard can grab his biggest career success to date and land the Scottish Grand National.