NEWS RELEASE – Wednesday March 27, 2019
JOE COULD BID FOR BACK TO BACK CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONALS
JOE Farrell, the winner of the 2018 Coral Scottish Grand National, is among the 67 entries for this year’s running of Scotland’s richest race.
The Rebecca Curtis trained ten year-old returned to form at Newbury on Saturday finishing second to Chic Name in a three mile two furlong handicap chase.
Although he holds an entry in the Grand National he looks more likely to head to Ayr to defend his crown. Last year’s runner up Ballyoptic, beaten only a nose, could re-oppose. The sponsors make Joe Farrell 10-1 joint favourite with Alan King’s Dingo Dollar.
Among the other notable entries is Beware The Bear, winner of the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham earlier this month and the nine year-old is one of two Nicky Henderson trained horses entered for the £215,000 contest, the other being Vyta du Roc.
Crosshue Boy who won the inaugural running of the £100,000 three mile Novices’ Handicap Chase on Coral Scottish Grand National Day last year could make a return trip from Ireland to compete in the big race this year.
The Scottish based entries include Lucinda Russell’s Big River, fourth in the Cheltenham race won by Beware The Bear, and Geronimo from the Sandy Thomson yard.
West country trainer Colin Tizzard has Sizing Codelco and Royal Vacation entered while Paul Nicholls has three entries including Give Me a Copper part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and Jeremy Kyle.
The main supporting contest on the day, the £105,000 CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle has attracted 41entries with the 2016 winner Ch’tibello fresh from his success in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham the top rated.
Other entries include Tom George’s Summerville Boy, the Colin Tizzard trained Vision des Flos and Pinsghou, Nicky Henderson’s Verdana Blue, Brain Power and Angels Breath and Paul Nicholls Malaya.
Latest Coral Scottish Grand National odds from Coral are 10 Dingo Dollar, Joe Farrell, 14 Talkischeap, Big River, 16 Beware The Bear, Ballyoptic, Vintage Clouds, Cloth Cap, 20 Lake View Lad, Royal Vacation, Blue Flight, Abolitionist, Give Me A Copper, Walk The Mill, The Two Amigos, The Young Master, Folsom Blue, Glen Rocco, Chidswell, Chic Name, Doing Fine