Going key for Glynn’s Scottish National hope

Noel Glynn would like the ground to dry up for Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr to suit Becauseicouldntsee

The County Clare trainer believes better ground will bring out the best in the ten-year-old, who was pulled up in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree, won by Auroras Encore. If the going is too soft, Becauseicouldntsee will instead go to the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown the following Saturday. Glynn said: “He needs the better ground. The ground at Aintree was a bit sticky and he doesn’t like going there now. He had a bad fall two years ago and hasn’t forgotten. We’ll see the real horse on Saturday, all being well.”

The going at Ayr was good to soft, soft in places yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson will be keeping a keen eye on the weather before committing stable star Sprinter Sacre to a run at the Punchestown Festival.

An incredibly impressive winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, the seven-year-old took a step up to two-and-a-half miles in his stride and extended his unbeaten record over fences to nine with another flawless display in the Melling Chase at Aintree.

The champion trainer-elect remains keen to send his charge to Ireland for the first time for the Boylesports.com Champion Chase on 23 April, but is wary about testing conditions.

Henderson said: “Barry [Geraghty] is going to come over in the morning to pop him over one or two [fences]. I just hope it doesn’t get any wetter over there. We want to go, and so do Long Run and Riverside Theatre. We’ll keep talking to Richie Galway [general manager] at Punchestown. We just don’t want it to get too soft and we’ll just keep an eye on the weather.

“There’ll be others to go. Nadiya de la Vega and Malt Master could go and I might run a few bumper horses.”

SELECTIONS

Beverley

2.00 Eeny Mac

2.35 Nice Story

3.10 Memory Styx

3.45 Tyrsal

4.20 Bosun Breese

4.55 Jabhaat

5.25 Gabrial The Master

6.00 Alluring Star

Cheltenham

2.10 Puffin Billy

2.45 Abnaki

3.20 Clerk’s Choice

3.55 Menorah

4.30 Count Guido Deiro

5.05 Goulanes

5.35 Mr Mole (nap)

Kempton

5.55 Permeate

6.30 Leitrim Pass

7.00 Town Mouse

7.30 Corn Snow

8.00 Tappanappa

8.30 Jubilant Queen

9.00 Bajan Story

Newmarket

1.45 Estifzaaz

2.20 M’Selle

2.55 Bungle Inthejungle

3.30 Emell

4.05 Lady Nouf

4.40 Kerbaaj

5.15 Battalion

5.45 Dutch Masterpiece

Double

Mr Mole

5:35 Cheltenham

Emell

3:30 Newmarket