Scottish Grand National Tips, Odds & Runners 2025
Run every year at Ayr racecourse, the Scottish Grand National takes place just a week after the Aintree equivalent. Another stamina sapping marathon test, its position in the calendar makes it unique and important for many reasons at the end of the jumps season, including the jockeys’ and trainers’ championships.
Our team give you their tips for the race below, while you can find the Scottish Grand National runners and odds here too.
Scottish National Tips
The Willie Mullins-trained Captain Cody can claim victory in a hugely competitive Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday 12th April, 2025
Scottish Grand National Odds
15:35 Ayr
Good To SoftCoral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
- First Prize: £112540
- 3m 7f 176y
- Class 1
- 23 runners
- Win time: 8m 20s
9/1 (Won)
- Win: £11.10
- Place: £2.80
in rear, steady headway on outer from 18th, went third and going easily 2 out, went second last, soon 3 lengths down and pushed along, quickened and led towards finish, cosily
14/1
- Place: £4.20
disputed lead, prominent 6th, led narrowly 21st, ridden after 2 out, good jump last, soon 3 lengths ahead, stayed on but headed towards finish
33/1
- Place: £8.50
in touch with leaders on inner, went second before 2 out, ridden and lost second last, weakened run-in
22/1
- Place: £7.30
midfield, headway and in touch with leaders 17th, went fourth and ridden after 2 out, weakened run-in
8/1
midfield on outer, headway and in touch with leaders 21st, weakened after 2 out
33/1
towards rear, good headway on turn before 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened 2 out
15/2F
didn’t always jump with fluency, took keen hold, soon disputed lead, led clearly 6th, mistake 18th, mistake 20th, headed and prominent 21st, weakening when hampered by faller 2 out
28/1
never better than midfield
14/1
always behind, jumped right on occasions, pulled up before 2 out
12/1
prominent on outer, jumped left 7th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
40/1
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
14/1
midfield on inner, mistake 17th, weakened 3 out (usual 4 out), pulled up before 2 out
16/1
midfield, brought down 7th
16/1
midfield on outer, pulled up before 10th, fatally injured
28/1
held up in midfield, reminder after 16th, weakened after 20th, pulled up before 2 out
66/1
towards rear, dropped to last after 9th, soon pushed along and struggling, pulled up before 12th
11/1
towards rear, badly hampered by faller and unseated 1st
28/1
in touch with leaders, hampered and fell 7th
9/1
in touch with leaders on outer, not fluent 12th, mistake 14th, carried out before 15th
12/1
midfield, fell 1st
14/1
prominent, joined leader 20th, outpaced when fell 2 out, fatally injured
33/1
disputed lead, prominent from 6th, eased and pulled up before 15th (vet said gelding was lame on his right-hind)
20/1
never better than midfield, pulled up before 2 out
+o+e Betting Returns
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £1890.00 |
| Straight Forecast | £1253.80 |
| Tricast | £40550.60 |
| Trifecta | £80222.00 |
Selections
Scottish Grand National Favourites
Willie Mullins is chasing the British Trainers’ championship once again, and his Chosen Witness could be an ideal type for this race. He is a novice chaser who has looked to improve with every run and many will back the Mullins runners blind after his extraordinary performance at Aintree.
Last year’s winner Macdermott could also be high on the Mullins shortlist, while the likes of Rock My Way and Olympic Man add more depth to the contest at the head of the betting.
Scottish Grand National Underdogs
Last year’s runner-up Surrey Quest is an immensely consistent horse who should give his running, while both Henry’s Friend and The Kniphand have untapped potential at this distance.
Scottish National Racecourse
Ayr racecourse is not as testing as Aintree’s Grand National course, and at this time of year, it regularly comes up with good ground to make this a lively race. Although stamina still comes to the fore, it can often be won in a fast time.
It represents a good track for powerful gallopers, with only gentle undulations and gaps between fences. Over this distance, a good jumper is still required though, with the obstacles getting tougher as the race progresses.
Are There Any Specific Scottish Grand National Betting Offers?
We will update this page, plus our betting offers guide, to show you the latest offers on the Scottish Grand National, including free bets, extra places and more.
Scottish National Trends & Historic Data
Since 2014, there have been no outright favourites who have won the race, but three joint or co-market leaders have been victorious. Christian Williams was responsible for two of those and excels when he has marathon chasers in his care.
The ages of Scottish National winners have varied distinctly too. Macdermott was unusually young when winning as a six-year-old a year ago, but Kitty’s Light was only seven the year before that. It could be becoming a race for younger horses, with only two winners older than nine in the last ten renewals.
Last Year’s Scottish National Odds
Despite initially being one of the favourites, and being trained by Willie Mullins, Macdermott drifted to 18/1 when getting up by a nose in the 2024 Scottish National.
Scottish National Horse Entries & Selections
Horses must be aged five and upwards in order to take part in the Scottish Grand National. This is the only criteria to begin with, as well as having had the requisite three runs over fences to get a handicap mark.
After that, the maximum field size for the race is 30. Any horses beyond the 30th runner will be balloted out for not being high enough in the handicap.
Which Trainers Have Historically Had the Most Success in the Scottish Grand National?
Five wins is the record in the Scottish National belonging to Neville Crump and Ken Oliver, both of whom secured their wins in the race decades ago, the former securing his first two wins when the race was run at Bogside.
In terms of modern trainers, both Nigel Twiston-Davies and Paul Nicholls have three victories in the race. Willie Mullins gained his first Scottish Grand National winner last season while Nicky Henderson has never won the contest.
Scottish Grand National Past Winners
| Year | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 2024 | Macdermott | Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins | 18/1 |
| 2023 | Kitty’s Light | Christian Williams | Jack Tudor | 4/1J |
| 2022 | Win My Wings | Christian Williams | Rob James | 13/2C |
| 2021 | Mighty Thunder | Lucinda Russell | Tom Scudamore | 8/1 |
| 2019 | Takingrisks | Nicky Richards | Sean Quinlan | 25/1 |
| 2018 | Joe Farrell | Rebecca Curtis | Adam Wedge | 33/1 |
| 2017 | Vicente | Paul Nicholls | Sam Twiston-Davies | 9/1J |
| 2016 | Vicente | Paul Nicholls | Sam Twiston-Davies | 14/1 |
| 2015 | Wayward Prince | Hilary Parrott | Robert Dunne | 25/1 |
| 2014 | Al Co | Peter Bowen | Jamie Moore | 40/1 |