Richard Dunwoody and Norman Williamson were yesterday handed leading chances to gain a first victory in the Stakis Casinos Scottish Grand National.
Dunwoody will partner Scotby and Williamson Hollybank Buck in tomorrow's Ayr contest, one of the few big jump races neither has won. The former champion jockey will have to put up overweight on Scotby, who has been set to carry 10st.
Dunwoody got down to 10st 2lb to ride Call It A Day into third place in the Martell Grand National last Saturday and expects to do just 1lb more this time.
He rode fellow Ayr entry Prime Example to victory at Kelso last time out but that horse is 10lb out of the handicap on tomorrow and Dunwoody will be on dual recent Towcester winner Scotby, William Hill's 6 to 1 joint-second favourite.
Williamson has been booked to ride Hollybank Buck, in place of Francis Flood who won the Eider Chase at Newcastle on the Irish raider and steered him into third place in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.
"Norman Williamson will ride - he won the Leopardstown Chase on him before," said trainer Tony Martin, who has elected to aim the gelding at the Scottish Grand National rather than last weekend's Aintree feature.
"Hollybank Buck is very well. He had a hard old race at Uttoxeter and needed another week and now I am lot happier with him."
Hollybank Buck is also a 6 to 1 chance with William Hill for the race, in which he reopposes eight-length Uttoxeter winner Young Kenny on the same terms. "I think he has got a great chance on Saturday," Martin added.
"Take nothing away from Young Kenny who beat us fair and square on the day at Uttoxeter. But the ground was a bit too quick and the track too tight. The ground will suit us better at Ayr and it is a more galloping track."
John Dunlop has lost leading Sagitta 1,000 Guineas contender Etizaaz to Godolphin but still has a possible for the first fillies' Classic in the shape of Sakha, who can book her place in the Guineas by winning the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, formerly the Fred Darling, at Newbury today.
She was most impressive at Haydock last August when galloping on strongly to give 3lb and a handsome five-length beating to Blue Melody.
