Racing: Although the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National is understandably overshadowed by its Aintree equivalent there is no denying it is a fine spectacle in its own right.

And today's Ayr marathon looks at the mercy of the lightly-weighted Gunther McBride, who would have been a leading contender for the Liverpool showpiece had he not been aimed north of the border.

The Philip Hobbs-trained eight-year-old looked as good as ever when narrowly failing to land a second successive Racing Post Chase at Kempton in February.

Gunther McBride ran a blinder to finish third in the Scottish National to Take Control last term, overcoming a blunder at the eighth fence to lead for a long way.

He looks to have been laid out for the Ayr showpiece, has proved he stays and the recent dry spell means the ground is likely to be in his favour.