Scottish Grand National Betting Preview

Ruby Walsh is riding out of his skin at present and is gunning for an unprecedented clean sweep of the top four Grand Nationals when he lines up for Saturday's Scottish National at Ayr (3.25) aboard 6-1 chance Cornish Rebel.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Having landed the Welsh National on Silver Birch in December, Walsh partnered the exciting novice Numbersixvalverde to victory in the Irish equivalent in March, then completed a National hat-trick in emphatic style on Hedgehunter in last week's John Smith's Grand National at Aintree. Although the stats are against the Irishman - no jockey in living memory has achieved this feat - I reckon Cornish Rebel can deliver the quintet for him, while enhancing Paul Nicholls' chances of usurping Martin Pipe in race for the trainers' championship. Cornish Rebel is lightly raced for his age, but what we have seen marks him out as one of the leading lights in the novice-chasing sphere. The eight-year-old ran a cracker in the Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time, staying on up the hill to finish six lengths third to Trabolgan, despite finding the good ground far too quick. Paul Nicholls' charge hit a flat spot at a crucial stage in that Grade One contest, but was doing all his best work in the closing stages, shaping as though he would come into his own when faced with a stiffer test of stamina and some juice in the ground. He will have both on Saturday and, frankly, I will be surprised if he's beaten. The Nicholls camp, also set to be represented by Colourful Life in this four-mile-one-furlong event, almost landed this race with a novice in 2002 when Shotgun Willy was narrowly foiled. Comply Or Die was three lengths in advance of Cornish Rebel in the Sun Alliance and rates a live danger if seeing out this trip. Indeed, the signs are that he will, but Cornish Rebel is 3lb better off with Martin Pipe's novice here, and, moreover, will have a definite edge on Comply Or Die on this easier surface, as the latter tends to be more effective on better ground. But this is by no means a two-horse race. Both Longshanks and Philson Run have solid claims, particularly the latter, who was most impressive when landing the Midlands National at Uttoxeter last time. Despite being 9lb higher today, Nick Williams' charge could still be feasibly treated, as that was just his fourth run under rules, so there could well be more to come from the nine-year-old. Longshanks missed the cut for the Grand National and was re-routed for a crack at the Topham Chase at the same meeting, in which he finished a creditable fourth. The 2m 5½f trip of the Topham was an inadequate stamina test for the Kim Bailey-trained gelding, and he will be much better suited to this test. However, his front-running style will mean that he's there to be shot at and, in my opinion, vulnerable to a rival with a finishing kick, like Cornish Rebel. Take The Stand appeared to be lobbing along nicely when unseating his rider in last weekends Grand National. He is the clear form pick on his run in the Gold Cup, in which he chased home five-length winner Kicking King. But that effort earned him a 15lb hike in the ratings, which looks a tad harsh considering that this year's Gold Cup was hardly a vintage renewal. Furthermore, Take The Stand has now failed to complete in three of his last five starts, giving him the look of a risky betting proposition. I wouldn't be surprise in the least to see Iris Bleu give a good account and he merits respect, but the confident call is Cornish Rebel, who is taken to beat chief threat Philson Run.Go to VCBet now for a free bet on the Scottish Grand National