Rachael Blackmore’s Scottish Grand National tips as she backs 8-1 shot | Racing | Sport

Rachael Blackmore thinks Willie Mullins could be celebrating again in the Scottish Grand National, one week on from taking the spoils at Aintree. The Closutton supremo tasted a fourth success in England’s Grand National a week ago as I Am Maximus swept aside his rivals to claim victory as the 9-2 favourite.

Not only was it a fourth win in the race for Mullins, but it was also a second for I Am Maximus, with the JP McManus-owned star also having triumphed in 2024. One week on, his and the racing world’s attention turns to north of the border as Ayr prepares to host the latest edition of the Scottish Grand National.

Just like last weekend at Aintree, it’s tight at the top of the market, with five contenders priced at 10-1 or shorter at the time of writing. They include Kim Roque for Joseph O’Brien, who took bronze in Liverpool after Jordans was collared on the run-in, plus King Of Answers for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore. Road To Home, Montregard and Quebecois round out the favourites.

Mullins only has one entered in the race – the aforementioned Road To Home. And Betfair ambassador Blackmore believes the seven-year-old can make it a hat-trick of wins at Ayr for the Irish trainer, who also tasted success in 2025 with Captain Cody and 2024 with Macdermott.

She said: “A week on from Willie Mullins triumph in the Aintree Grand National, the Scottish Grand National could go his way once again following his success in the race for the past two years.

“I really like Road To Home here, he finished a neck second to Ask Brewster in Kim Muir in Cheltenham, he has gone up six pounds for that, but is an improving type at seven years old and could be seriously involved. He is unexposed as a stayer but has been progressive over fences.”

Blackmore has also run the rule over several of the other contenders. She continued: “Ask Brewster lines up again but could find this soft ground not in his favour, all of his chasing success has come on good ground or good to firm ground.

“Kim Roque shouldn’t have an issue with soft ground, having won twice in France on soft/heavy. He was fourth in that Cheltenham contest and should enter calculations here for Joseph O’Brien, whose yard is in fantastic form at the moment.

“Montregard who is a half-brother to Protektorat has been very progressive this season. He won well in February at Ascot and didn’t line up at Cheltenham, unlike some of the others. He has put up some good performances this year.

“King Of Answers, who was second in the National Hunt chase in Cheltenham, has to be one for major consideration also, staying doesn’t seem to be any issue, and he looks an ideal type for this race. A 3Ib rise for that second should be very manageable for him.”

As Blackmore pointed out, there’s plenty to like about Road To Home’s chances. He ran a cracker over 3m in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, only losing out to Ask Brewster by a head, and looks primed to step up to 4m here.

He also had the likes of Monbeg Genius (went on to finish fifth in the Irish Grand National) and Kim Roque (reopposes here) behind him that day, in a further boost to the form. He also saddled the first two home in the Scottish Grand National 12 months ago and trained four of the first six in the year prior to that.

Rachael Blackmore was speaking ahead of the Scottish Grand National Festival, play different at the Scottish Grand National this year with Betfair.