It’s onto Scotland for their Grand National this weekend where I believe David Pipe’s Broadway Buffalo has a cracking chance of winning! David’s father Martin won the race back in 2002 with Take Control under Ruby Walsh so it’s been a while since the Pipe team landed this big prize.
Broadway Buffalo ran an amazing race (I don’t use that word lightly) when runner-up in the four mile chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Approaching the third last Cause of Causes crossed his path resulting in Broadway Buffalo making a juddering mistake as he whack the fence. He lost all momentum and lengths in the process.
To his credit he picked up again and made significant ground down the hill before Katie switched him to the inner looking for a run. The final fence was omitted so the race turned into a sprint up the hill with both winner Cause of Causes and Broadway Buffalo quickening clear of the third The Job is Right and leaving the rest for dead. Connections can rightly feel Broadway Buffalo could have won this race but for that momentum stopping jump at the third last.
Thankfully, the racing calendar has been kind this year with over 5 weeks from the Cheltenham Festival to today’s Scottish Grand National. The Cheltenham Four Miler has always produced proper stamina laden Grand National types and the 2015 renewal has already produced Irish National winner Thunder and Roses. The BHA handicapper raised Broadway Buffalo 4lbs to 141 since Cheltenham which is a mark he reached when hurdling too!
Tom Scudamore takes over today and Broadway Buffalo is progressing nicely as a chaser with just 9 chasing starts. He is not the biggest horse and should find the fences at Ayr racecourse easier than Cheltenham. The watering of the course last night will have helped as he is best with some cut in the ground. A huge run is expected with Broadway Buffalo’s hold up style ideal for National races.
There are a few other horses which have been on our radar for this race for a while like Sego Success, Lie Forrit, Catching On & Samstown. Alan King loves to target this meeting coming from Scotland but I feel Sego Success might lack the finishing speed to win. Lie Forrit is very interesting but has shown his hand somewhat to the handicapper by winning his last two races shooting 16lbs up the handicap from a rating of 132 to 148! Catching On was very well handicapped when falling in the Uttoxeter National and might remain so but is soft ground dependant really! That leaves Samstown who looks well overpriced at 25/1!
Trainer Alistair Williams is from the Scottish Borders and mentioned this race as the major target following Samstown’s victory at Haydock in January. On that day he was way out the back unable to go the pace according to today’s jockey Brian Harding before picking them all up to go clear and then idling badly in front and almost getting beat! That race proved he has bags of stamina and talent and I fully expect the better ground to suit him well today. On Scottish Grand National day last year he romped away with a 3m1f novice’s handicap chase jumping super. We know he likes the course and carrying 10-5 he can play a big part in the outcome of the Scottish Grand National.
Ayr Scottish Grand National – 15:45
Selection A: 1 Point Each Way Broadway Buffalo (14/1 generally use bookie paying 5 places.)
Selection B: 1 Point Each Way Samstown (25/1 generally use bookie paying 5 places.)
Best of Luck,
Nicky
Bet Alchemist = Profitable Betting Every Year
