On Wednesday afternoon, the going at Ayr was described as soft, heavy in places after threequarters of an inch of rain fell on the track ahead of the Coral Scottish Grand National on Saturday. Some rain is forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday, but Friday and Saturday are expected to be dry with some sunshine.
Despite the change in the going, Harvey Smith, husband of trainer Sue Smith, confirmed that the High Eldwick stable would be sending a strong team, including the Grand National hero Auroras Encore, up the M6 for the Scottish Grand National meeting. He said, “They are all in good form and they are all going. It soon dries up this time of year. They are all running, no problem.”
Auroras Encore is a top-priced 14/1 to emulate Red Rum by completing the National/Scottish National double in the same season.
