RACING: NEWS ROUND-UP:CHICAGO GREY will always have a place in Gordon Elliott's heart after giving him a first Cheltenham festival success last month, and the grey could secure another notable success for the Meath trainer in today's Scottish Grand National.
No Irish-trained runner has won the Ayr highlight, and Chicago Grey will be joined today by Charlie Swan’s Long Strand in an attempt to change that statistic.
Thirty will line up for the four-mile-plus marathon, but Chicago Grey, winner of the National Hunt Chase at the festival, has topped the betting all week.
“There are a lot of runners and you need a lot of luck, but the horse is in good form and were looking forward to it,” Elliott said yesterday. “He’s come out of the Cheltenham race fine and he’s a very clean-winded horse. The trip and the ground won’t be a problem.”
Long Strand is among the outsiders and is 19lb out of the handicap proper, with Neptune Collonges topping the weights.
Another Irish star in cross-sea action today is Eddie Lynam’s stalwart Duff, who tackles the Listed highlight at Leicester over his favourite seven-furlong trip.
Today’s Listed feature at Naas is the five-furlong Woodlands Stakes where the 2009 winner Inxile can maintain his 100 per cent course record for Yorkshire trainer Dandy Nicholls.
Last weekend’s Leopardstown winner Northern Rocked reappears in the seven-furlong handicap under a 9lb ratings hike, but could do well to confirm form with Elusive Award, who was running on well at the end of that race.
