Vaughan's Beshabar ready to shade Grey at Ayr

HAVING finished 1-2-3 in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Chicago Grey, Beshabar and Be There In Five quickly renew their rivalry on the biggest stage north of the Border - the Coral Scottish Grand National - and this time it's Tim Vaughan's Beshabar that's fancied to be pick of the bunch.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Chicago Grey heads the betting after landing the spoils at Prestbury Park, and while Beshabar enjoys a 5lb pull in the weights, the grey's trainer is still hopeful of another big run.

"There are a lot of runners, and you need a lot of luck, but the horse is in good form and we're looking forward to it," said Elliott. "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. All we need is a bit of luck and he'll run a big race."

Vaughan, however, believes that the contours at Ayr might just play to his charge's strengths, and is hopeful Beshabar might be able to reverse the places.

"We're very much looking forward to it and we're a little bit better off with Chicago Grey on Saturday," said the Welsh handler. "It's a big field but he'll love the trip, track and ground. He's had a lovely clean run through since Cheltenham and he should run a big race. He hasn't had much racing this year, so I'm hoping he might be a fresher horse than some of them. He seems very well at home and his jumping has improved with every run.

"He's still a novice over fences and could still be on the upgrade."

Owner Graham Roach is also hoping to enjoy an overdue slice of luck as The Minack carries his big-race hopes.

Roach saw Shotgun Willy go down narrowly in the 2002 renewal when carrying his red and white colours, while Cornish Rebel was denied in 2005. Like that pair, The Minack is handled by champion trainer Paul Nicholls and, having shown smart form in novice company this season, Roach is hoping for the best.

"He has a nice weight and Paul tells me the horse is in good fettle. If they had a bit of rain that would help," said Roach. "We've been bridesmaid twice before with Shotgun Willy second and Cornish Rebel just getting touched off as well. Hopefully, we can make it third time lucky. His mother (Ebony Jane) was a long-distance horse, and I think that's why we're giving him a chance over a trip.

"I'm not sure he's got a huge acceleration, but he's got a high cruising speed and hopefully he'll jump well. It will be a good day whatever happens. We'll be there and we're looking forward to it."

Merigo became the first Scottish-trained horse to win the race in 28 years 12 months ago and his trainer Andrew Parker insists anything else he achieves will be a huge bonus.

"He's in good form and we can't do any more with him. His whole season has been geared around either this Saturday or last Saturday," said Parker. "We declared him for the National at Aintree and had the option of being fourth reserve, but we didn't see much point in doing that and we knew he could run in this race again. At the end of the day, he's won a Scottish National and not many horses do that - anything else he does will be a bonus.

"I'm happy enough with the ground as it is. We're 3lb higher than last year but in effect he's running off 15lb higher because we're running from a long way out of the handicap with the top horse (Neptune Collonges) running."

Minella Four Star arrives after victory in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter, and his trainer David Pipe believes there are plenty of reasons to expect another bold show this weekend.

"He's gone up 11lb for the win at Uttoxeter but he'll like the ground, the track and the trip," said Pipe. "Obviously it helps us that Neptune Collonges has stayed in, as we get in on a nice low weight and a lot of the other horses are running from out of the handicap. He seems to have come out of his last race well and all the signs have been good at home. He'd have a small each-way chance."

Alan King believes Blazing Bailey could run a big race if conditions do not become too fast. "It has been one of the highlights of the season seeing Blazing Bailey come back to form," he said. "He is 7lb higher than when he won at Ffos Las, but he is really enjoying himself again and jumping well and if the ground remains on the easy side of good, he would not be without a chance."

Ferdy Murphy has trained Paris Pike, Joes Edge and Hot Weld to win the extended four-mile contest and this year's representative is Poker De Sivola.

The eight-year-old disappointed when a leading fancy for the race 12 months ago, but Murphy believes he has had a better preparation for the race this time around. "He seems very well and in good form and this race has been the plan all season," said Murphy.

"He won the four-miler at Cheltenham last year and then ran flat at Ayr, so this time we decided we wanted him going there fresh. He's had a quieter year and ran well enough in the cross-country race last time.

"With 30 runners you want a clear passage, but all his preparation has gone well. It's unfortunate we're running from out of the handicap but there's nothing we can do about that."

Meanwhile, Donald McCain's talented front-runner Overturn is in peak condition as he bids to secure back-to-back victories in the Isle of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Victory in the race last year kickstarted an excellent run of form that saw him finish second in the Swinton Hurdle before landing the Northumberland Plate and the Galway Hurdle. He is 30lb higher in the weights than he was this time 12 months ago but with conditions in his favour, McCain is anticipating another bold show in Scotland.

"He's been waiting to run for a little while and we've been aiming at this race," said McCain. "He's obviously got plenty of weight but he's earned it, so we'll have a crack at it. He likes it at Ayr and the ground has come right, so it's just whether we can carry the weight or not."