Scottish National

The Scottish imitation of a real race takes place today,in reality its just a 4m handicap.By recent renewal standards its a pretty modest affair,Junior carrying top weight tells us all we need to know.Trends and hard and fast rules dont really concern this event but i NEVER back anything here that ran at Aintree,even if it fell at the first,i always look for a fresh performer,no more than five or six outings and you must have won over 3m1 or more.One that ive had an eye on since New Years Day is MOSTLY BOB,he won the 3m3 race at Cheltenham over the New Year period,coming from miles back to collar the front two at the last,okay they did over race but he powered home over the extended trip to win going away.This race has a handful of pacesetters,it will be a real war on the last circuit and so long as his jumping gremlins dont surface i can see him having a lot to say in the final outcome.I think 22s is way over the odds,he rates a sloid VFM wager.
In the so called Scottish Champion Hurdle i just cant help thinking that CLERKS CHOICE isnt absolutely thrown in off 147.His form this season is poor but his sixth in last seasons real Champion Hurdle is stones above what anything else in this field has shown,even his placed runs in very good company would equate to more than enough against this moderate bunch.I know its grasping the nettle but at 25s or bigger he is screaming out for a little flutter.
Good luck to those who play.

Have it down to 3 for me and will end up backing them all, the unlucky horses are.

Merigo
Portrait King
Aurora's Encore

I'll take the 1-2.

Good shout,hope you did the forecast perms.Merigo is just the original horses for courses adage,hes stones better around Ayr than he is anywhere else.Mostly Bob ran a deplorable race,tardy at the start,jumped right throughout and looked like he didnt want to know,he is easily passed over for any forthcoming race.Clerks Choice ran a belter,a real signal of a return to something like his old self.Hes well handicapped off 147 and he can be placed to good effect,if not this season then certainly early doors next season.No damgae done betting as the Mostly Bob bet was offset by a ew touch at the 33s on Oliver Sherwoods hurdler.

Only had decent e/w bets on them, was slating myself for not having the f/c perms when they were battling out the finish though. Was nice to see Clerk's Choice run a good race again certainly was finishing like a train come the finish. Agree on Merigo he just loves Ayr and was extremely game come the finish I thought Aurora's had him come the final jump I was glad to see Merigo rally so well to get the win even though it cost me a bigger profit.

Theres nothing worse than having your two picks battle it out when you havent got the forecast on.Ive done it twice in the Grand National,Maori Venture and The Tsarevich then a few seasons later with Mr Frisk and Durham Edition.In my younger less affluent days i used to do the forecasts on a regular basis,you could get real good payouts for a pittance of a stake.