The Scottish Grand National is taking place today at Ayr Racecourse with a scheduled start time of 3.35pm.
Willie Mullins will not be winning the race for a third consecutive year after his sole entrant, Road To Home, was declared a non-runner.
MacDermott won the Scottish Grand National for Mullins in 2024 before Captain Cody secured victory last year.
Joseph O’Brien’s Kim Roque has been the favourite in the build-up to the race, though Lucinda Russell’s King Of Answers has attracted significant attention and is Jim Delahunt’s pick for victory.
Montregard was another fancied contender but was also declared a non-runner just hours before the start time.
The race will be shown live on STV, with coverage beginning at 12.45pm, and on ITV for viewers elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
As of 9am on April 18, Kim Roque and Chasingouttheblues were joint favourites at 10/3, with King Of Answers at 6/1, Isaac Des Obeaux at 13/2, Promontory at 7/1 and Quebecois at 11/1.
The full list of runners and riders includes Blaze The Way (Danny Mullins), Quebecois (Harry Cobden), King Of Answers (Derek Fox), Isaac Des Obeaux (Sam Twiston-Davies), Herakles Westwood (James Bowen), Katate Dori (Dylan Johnston), Stolen Silver (Olive Nicholls), Famous Bridge (Sean Quinlan), Maximilian (Williams Maggs), Gabbys Cross (Sean Bowen), Kim Roque (JJ Slevin), Collectors Item (Jonjo O’Neill Jr), Git Maker (Jonathan Burke), Kap Vert (Sean Houlihan), Promontory (Donagh Meyler), Chasingouttheblues (Jamie Hamilton) and Magna Sam – NON-RUNNER.
Our Power, Road To Home, Ask Brewster, Montregard and Magna Sam are all listed as non-runners in today’s event.
How the non-runners affect Willie Mullins’ chances
Willie Mullins had entered only one horse, Road To Home, for the Scottish Grand National, making his bid for a third straight win dependent on that single runner.
With Road To Home withdrawn and Montregard also scratched, Mullins has no active runners in the race, ending any immediate prospect of extending his recent dominance in the event.
What the betting market indicates about the contenders
Kim Roque and Chasingouttheblues lead the betting at 10/3, reflecting their status as joint favourites ahead of the race.
King Of Answers, despite being picked by Jim Delahunt, is priced at 6/1, suggesting the market views it as a strong but not top-ranked chance.
Promontory at 7/1 and Quebecois at 11/1 represent the next tier of fancied runners according to the morning odds.
Where and how to watch the race
Television coverage of the Scottish Grand National begins at 12.45pm on STV for Scottish viewers and on ITV for the rest of the United Kingdom.
The race itself is scheduled to get under way at 3.35pm at Ayr Racecourse, following a build-up that has seen multiple fancied contenders withdrawn.
What time does the Scottish Grand National start?
The Scottish Grand National is slated to get under way at 3.35pm today, Saturday April 18, at Ayr Racecourse.
Who are the joint favourites for the Scottish Grand National?
Kim Roque and Chasingouttheblues are the joint favourites at 10/3 as of 9am on April 18.