Prolific chaser Anglers Crag out to defend home territory in Scottish National

16 April 2024 , 19:30

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Anglers Crag will carry owner Derrick Mossop's colours in the Coral Scottish Grand National (Image: PA)

Brian Ellison believes prolific chaser Anglers Crag is "the one to beat" in Ayr's Scottish Grand National.

The revitalised nine-year-old defied a 20lb weight rise to rattle off a four-timer under the care of his Yorkshire trainer. Last seen in February, Anglers Crag battled bravely to maintain the sequence, rallying from an Eider Chase jumping error at Newcastle. Given a 56-day break, his next task is to defend home territory in Saturday's Coral-sponsored feature race.

Willie Mullins has six of the 36 entries after I Am Maximus put him in pole position for a first British trainers' championship at the weekend. Despite the Irishman's strength in numbers, Ellison said: "I think our horse is the one to beat, he's on a roll at the moment.

"The handicapper has put him up 8lb, but he would have won the Eider easier if he hadn't made the late mistake. He's bigger and stronger now, seems to thrive off his routine here and worked very well earlier this week. We just don't want the ground to dry out too much."

Anglers Crag is 8-1 third favourite with William Hill, behind Mullins-trained Macdermott (5-1) and 7-1 shot Mr Incredible - whose Grand National bid ended at Aintree's 15th fence.

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Stablemate I Am Maximus led home an Irish-trained 1-2-3-4 and gave Mullins a £52,000 title race advantage with just two weeks left. Bookmakers Coral say Mr Incredible, a slow starter before his mishap at the Chair obstacle, has been even more popular with them.

Jockey Paul Townend celebrates with the crowds after winning the Randox Grand National riding I Am Maximus (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

"Having been left in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Monday's entry stage following his Aintree unseat last weekend, Mr Incredible is all the rage with punters, with his price tumbling from 16-1 down to 6-1," said spokesman David Stevens.

Second-placed championship contender Dan Skelton has seven runners at Cheltenham on Wednesday, while 14-times champion Paul Nicholls, currently in third a further £75,000 behind, has four. The British pair have leading chances in the Grade Two Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy, which carries a first prize of £39,865.

Melissa Jones