Gordon Brown – Race Reporter Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
SANDY THOMSON is hoping Marty McFly can extend his winning sequence on the opening day of Ayr’s Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.
The Lambden raider, ridden by in-form Danny McMenamin, bids to make it five victories on the trot in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
“He’s had an amazing year already and he’s a real star,” Thomson said. “His jumping is key and it has just got better and better and he was brilliant at Carlisle last time. He’s been given another 7lbs for that, and he’s gone up almost a stone for his four wins, so let’s hope there is some improvement to come.”
Rivals to Marty McFly include Sam England-trained The Grafter, who is two from two over fences after comfortable back-to-back strikes at Newcastle in January and February.
The most valuable race on the card is the £50,000 Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase in which Donnacha is likely to be heading the market.
He has been absent since given a 5lb rise for his win on Cheltenham Trials day in late January and the runner-up, Jagwar, has boosted the form with a close second at the Festival.
Donnacha is the first runner at Ayr for Devon-based trainer Nigel Hawke, who won the 1991 Grand National aboard Seagram.
There is plenty of Scottish interest in the line-up as Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore are double-handed with Myretown and Hombre De Guerra while Nick Alexander salves Dubai Days.