Sausalito Sunrise expected to carry top weight at Ayr

SAUSALITO Sunrise looks set to carry top weight in Saturday's Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
Sausalito Sunrise, seen being ridden to victory in The Appletiser 50 Year Celebration Steeple Chase at Ascot by Tom O'Brien (Picture: Julian Herbert/PA Wire).Sausalito Sunrise, seen being ridden to victory in The Appletiser 50 Year Celebration Steeple Chase at Ascot by Tom O'Brien (Picture: Julian Herbert/PA Wire).
Sausalito Sunrise, seen being ridden to victory in The Appletiser 50 Year Celebration Steeple Chase at Ascot by Tom O'Brien (Picture: Julian Herbert/PA Wire).

The expected defections of Many Clouds and The Last Samuri mean Philip Hobbs’s charge is topping the list and a rise in the weights of 7lb will follow.

Seeyouatmidnight has been left in by Sandy Thomson after coming up short in the RSA Chase, but is likely to be suited by the marathon trip.

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“We gave him a quiet couple of weeks and now we’re building him up; we’re delighted with him,” said Thomson on At The Races. “We’re really looking forward to it.

“He’s been left in the Future Champions Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles, but the ground looks like being on the softer side of good so we’ll go for the National.”

Grand National-winning trainer Mouse Morris could bid for an unprecedented treble as his Irish National hero Rogue Angel is still in the mix.

Yorkshire hopes rest with Malcolm Jefferson’s Oscar Rock and Sue Smith’s Straidnahana.

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Meanwhile Cue Card and Don Cossack, the two standout three mile chasers, remain on course for a mouthwatering third clash after featuring among 20 entries for the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup omn April 27.

Colin Tizzard’s Cue Card won Kempton’s King George when his rival fell before the tables were turned in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when Gordon Elliott’s stable star galloped to victory after his rival crashed out.

The feature race on the first day of the Festival is the Boylesports Champion Chase, with Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Sprinter Sacre the headline act among 18 possible runners.

Officials at Beverley are preparing for tomorrow’s opening fixture of the 2016 season, with a renewed emphasis on prize money in a bid to attract better horses to the go-ahead East Yorkshire track.

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Chief executive Sally Iggulden said at least £6,000 will be up for grabs for Class Five events, the modest races staged on the Flat. She added: “We push ahead with our quality races, and aim to increase the competitiveness of racing on the Westwood.

“An investment of over £800,000 has seen a full refurbishment of the Attraction Restaurant, which is now comfortably amongst the best in the country. It’s been all systems go to make for an even better venue and sporting spectacle for our racegoers.”