The Scottish Grand National has been held at Ayr Racecourse since 1966, following the closure of the Bogside Racecourse in 1965. Bogside held the first Scottish Grand National back in 1867, which was a 3 mile 7 furlong triangular course, slightly shorter than that as it is now at Ayr which is 4 miles 1 furlong.
The Scottish Grand National is a grade 3 Handicap steeplechase, with entries from horses of 5yrs upwards. A testing course with a challenging 27 fences and competition of up to 40 horses taking part.
It is run every April just a couple of weeks after the major Aintree Grand National, attracting as many as 20,000 spectators to the course over a 2 day festival which also includes another big prize race, the Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle.
Not only does this event bring in the spectators but top jockey's including Ruby Walsh, AP. MCcoy and Tony Dobbin, along with trainers PF. Nicholls and N. Twiston-Davies. You will notice that many of the horses entered into the Scottish Grand National had only just ran a couple of weeks before in the Aintree Grand National, but it is very rare that you will see one horse pulling off a double for both races in the same year.
The last ever succesful horse to do this was the legend that is 'Red Rum' back in 1974 and to date he still holds that claim.
The first winner in 1867 was 'The Elk' ridden by John Page and owned by the Duke of Hamilton, who 2 weeks earlier celebrated a 1st at the Grand National with his horse 'Cortolvin'. Other Earlier wins have come from horses such as 'Couvrefeu II' who won the title 3 years running in 1911, 1912 and 1913, another horse to win in 2 consecutive wins in 1926 and 1927 was 'Estuna'.
Hello Bud 2009
This was a strange race as the winner led from start to finish which is something of a first as most that lead will eventually trail off with stamina difficulties. Hello Bud started well and just kep jumping the fences with no one really challenging although keeping just behind. After the last fence Hello Bud just began to pull away with no one able to offer any competition.
Memory of J. Underwood - 10th May 2009 - Durham
I read about this race in the Mirror, and read that this horse liked to lead from the front. I don't normally place any bets except on the Grand National. I backed Hello Bud £2 each way as I thought if it did lead it would have to either run out of energy of another better horse would have had to have a lot of energy to go past him. Was very happy with the win and will now look at the other nationals without a doubt.
Iris De Balme 2008
A 66-1 chance 8 year old ridden by Amateur Mr Charlie Huxley. If anyone had written about this story no one would have believed it! Not only was the horse and jockey strong outsiders, but the fact they won the race by an astonishing 14 lengths to 2nd placed, and the more experienced Halcon Genelardais makes this even more memorable.
Hot Weld 2007
This 8 year old ridden by PJ McDonald and trained by Ferdy Murphy was a 14-1 shot, pipping Nine De Sivola by half a length. This was the second Scottish National in two years for Ferdy who also won in 2005 with Joes Edge.
Run For Paddy 2006
This was unique due to Carl Llewellyn who was not only the jockey but also the trainer! At 33-1 Carl got the best out of Run For Paddy with a late burst of energy to take him past 7-1 joint favourite Ladalko.
Joes Edge 2005
Keith Mercer was jockey of the day in this race, with one of the closest ever finishes in National history. At 20-1 a photo was required to separate the winner from 2nd placed Cornish Rebel ridden by Ruby Walsh. Pure drama this one, as a win for Ruby Walsh would have given him the Grand Slam of Nationals.
Memory of J. Flemming - 11th May 2009 - Scotland
I was in Ayr for this race 4 years ago, and photo finish sounds great when you don't have money on the race. I did, a lot, and I lost it all by a few centimetres, not good. I've not bet on a horse since, and would not recommend anyone else to do so.
Grey Abbey 2004
A well loved horse that aswell as the Scottish National, also won the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby beating another great in Sir Rembrandt.
Ryalux 2003
Ryalux actually made a mistake at the last fence but was able to push on bravely to overtake Tony McCoy's ride Sormez.
Take Control 2002
This was like pulling a rabbit out of the hat. Originally turned down by McCoy, Ruby Walsh took Take Control on and won the race!
Gingembre 2001
Ridden by Andrew Thornton, Gingembre at 7 years old is the youngest horse to win the Scottish National since Earth Summit in 1994 who was 6. There were 35 runners (maximum) in a race where Gingembre beat the much fancied Ad Hoc by 5 lengths.
Paris Pike 2000
The 8 year old Scottish National winner was another of David Nicholson's trained horses ridden by Adrian Maguire.
Young Kenny 1999
Young Kenny did a double in 1999 by also winning the Uttoxeter Midlands National. Always ridden by Brendan Powell, Young Kenny was unfortunately put down in 2001 after pulling up during a race.
Baronet 1998
Adrian Maguire was the master in this act giving him his first of two wins in three years.
Belmont King 1997
A 9 year old ridden by Tony McCoy. Do you have information on this horse? If so please contact us so we can add it here!
Moorcroft Bay 1996
An old horse to win a Scottish National, with Mark Dwyer in the saddle Moorcroft Bay was 11 years old when this race was won.
Wilsford 1995
Memory of Anon - 5th May 2009 - UK
I was based in Cyprus in 95 and we all had a sweepstake on the Scottish National as we were away for the big one. There were not that many horses running so there were a lot of doubles and trebles of the same horse. The whole pot was worth about 400 Cypriot pounds, one of my mates won the pot when Willsford won but he just bought loads of crates of Keo (beer) in and we all got hammered - good race though.
Earth Summit
A Great Horse. Earth Summit is the only horse to have won The Grand National, Welsh National and Scottish National. Having won the Scottish National in 1994 Earth Summit won the 1998 Grand National ahead of Suny Bay by a huge eleven lengths.
This was after a near fatal accident at the Haydock Course. Whilst he also won the Welsh National in 1997 at a great price of 25-1 Earth Summit will always be remembered as the horse that won a triple crown of Nationals. Something that may never be done again.
Earth Summit passed away peacefully in 2005 from cancer.
Memory of M. Etherington - 21st April 2009 - UK
I really remember the 1998 National well because my husband and I backed the winner Earth Summit at 18-1, but Jerry didn't pay tax on the stake which was the thing to do at the time. Therefore after betting £50 to win we would have expected £900, nonetheless a great race and good to get a win, even if we had to pay the Labour Party for the pleasure!
Run For Free 1993
Another Martin Pipe trained horse this time saddled by Mark Perrett.
Captain Dibble 1992
The famous partnership of Nigel Twiston-Davies and Peter Scudamore were something of a star studded team when winning the Scottish National in 1992.
Killone Abbey 1991
8 year old ridden by Chris Gant. Do you have information on this horse? If so please contact us so we can add it here!
Four Trix 1990
9 year old saddled by Derek Byrne. Do you have information on this horse? If so please contact us so we can add it here!
Roll-a-Joint 1989
An 11 year old ridden by Brenadan Powell. Do you have information on this horse? If so please contact us so we can add it here!
Mighty Mark 1988
A 9 year old ridden by Brian Shorey in 1988. Do you have information on this horse? If so please contact us so we can add it here!
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