Searching for Scottish Grand National tips ahead of the 2026 race at Ayr? You found us. We’re breaking down the main trends, betting angles, and latest odds. With shocks like Joe Farrell’s 33/1 victory in 2018, this is a race in which the smart selections can pay off.
- 1 Scottish Grand National Betting Tips
- 2 Scottish Grand National Betting Odds
- 3 How We Select Our Scottish Grand National Tips
- 4 Best Scottish Grand National Betting Sites
- 5 Most Popular Scottish Grand National Betting Markets
- 6 Scottish Grand National Racecard
- 7 Scottish Grand National Racing Trends & Stats
- 8 Ayr Racecourse Tips
- 9 Upcoming Horse Racing Events
- 10 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 11 Scottish Grand National FAQs
Scottish Grand National Betting Tips
Initial entries are expected a few weeks before the race, which is run on Saturday, April 18. Our tips for the Scottish Grand National will be live by then.
Scottish Grand National Betting Odds
Scottish Grand National betting will be available when the initial entries are announced. When that happens, the top Scottish Grand National odds from the best horse racing bookmakers will be listed right here.
How We Select Our Scottish Grand National Tips
Our tips for Scottish Grand National horses are based on several metrics. Nothing is left to chance, with all the following factors taken into consideration.
Horses are given official (and unofficial) ratings, showing where they stand based on form. We assess this, deciding on whether we think the horse’s rating is a true one.
The weights play a huge part. In the Scottish Grand National, horses carry different weights based on their rating. It’s up to us to decide whether we think that weight is fair in the conditions, whether a horse is harshly treated, or whether they may be well handicapped.
We assess the horse as an individual, bringing in perceived ability, past form, age, injuries, jumping style and more. We look at who trains them, allied with their pedigree, to assess whether they can get better in advance of the Scottish Grand National.
Having assessed all the above, we look for patterns to see whether a horse could be improving. This makes them well handicapped, though some may be going backwards which achieves the opposite.
Not all trainers and jockeys are equal. The better trainers come to the fore in races like this, while this busy handicap chase, all while coping with Ayr Racecourse, is better handled by the experienced riders.
The trip for the Scottish National is a gruelling four miles long. It goes without saying that we need to look for a horse we believe can fully stay the distance.
We’ve got more details on this below; Ayr is not the most brutal track, but we still like to know we’ve found the right horse to handle it.
Some like it very soft underfoot, others can jump on good or even firm ground. We check on which conditions horses perform best under and take it from there.
Best Scottish Grand National Betting Sites
The 2026 Scottish Grand National runners and odds will be displayed by the best online bookmakers around. Here’s our top 10 for betting on this race.
Payment methods(8):
Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New UK + ROI customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £/€5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stakes not returned). Restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Payment methods(10):
Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Payment methods(11):
Bet £10 & Get £30 18+. Registration Required. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Funded account or place a bet to qualify. Geo location and live streaming rules apply. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Mobile Exclusive: Bet £10 Get £40 18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in Free Bets (4x£10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Payment methods(7):
Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets 18+ New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Payment methods(10):
100% up to £50 Welcome Bonus 18+ New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Deposit used 1st. Odds, bet & payment limits. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets 18+ New customers: Deposit £10+ within 7 days and place a sports bet. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports Bet). Valid 7 days. Min odds apply. Excludes virtual sports, esports and non-UK/IE horse racing. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Payment methods(10):
Bet £20, Get £40 in Free Bets 18+ New UK customers. Min £20 first deposit. Place a bet of £20 at min odds of 2/1 (3.0) and get £40 in Free Bets within 48 hours. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Payment methods(6):
Up to £30 Matched Free Bet if your First Acca Loses + 100 Free Spins + £30 Uber Eats Voucher 18+ New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Earn a £30 Uber Eats Voucher on successful Acca qualification. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Payment methods(5):
Horse Racing: Bet £10 Get £30 18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit & bet £10 or more on any Horse Racing market at minimum 1/1 odds within 7 days of registration. No cash out. Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets, selected markets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
Coral’s sponsorship makes them number one
Gary Christie: Coral is, once again, sponsoring the Scottish Grand National, so we expect their promos, extra places and odds to be up there with the best on the market.
Most Popular Scottish Grand National Betting Markets
Spread betting is an option for this and other races, though the most popular Scottish Grand National bets will be those listed here:
It’s well known that, for most horses, the best odds will be listed ante-post. To avoid losing your money, should your chosen horse not run, always look for a non-runner, no bet bookie.
From the pros to the once-a-year punters, win and each-way bets will form the majority of betting turnover on the Scottish Grand National. For a win bet, backing a 5/1 shot at £10 simply means you win £50 profit. For each-way bets, you pay twice, backing the ‘win’ and the ‘place’. The latter will come to 1/4 or 1/5 of the odds, and if your horse places in the first four but doesn’t win, you will at least win back that portion of the bet.
Similar to ‘in-play’ football bets, in-running means you can wait until the horses jump off before betting live. This is a good way to assess whether your selection is running OK early, though odds will fluctuate quickly.
Difficult to get right but ever popular, forecast and tricast bets mean betting on the first two or first three horses past the line in the correct order.
Scottish Grand National Racecard
The full racecard will land soon, courtesy of Ayr Racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority. Until then, we’re playing the waiting game, but what we do know is that the Scottish Grand National Festival rolls across two days. Based on last year, here’s how the weekend should look:
Ladies Day – Friday, 17 April 2026
| Race | Distance | Class/Age |
|---|---|---|
| Handicap Hurdle | 2m | Class 3, 4yo+ |
| Mares’ Maiden Hurdle | 2m | Class 3, 4yo+ |
| Handicap Hurdle | 3m½f | Class 3, 4yo+ |
| Handicap Chase | 2m4½f | Class 2, 5yo+ |
| Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase | 2m½f | Class 3, 5yo+ |
| Handicap Hurdle | 2m5½f | Class 2, 4yo+ |
| Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys) | 2m4½f | Class 4, 4yo+ |
Scottish Grand National Day – Saturday, 18 April 2026
| Race | Distance | Class/Age |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Handicap Chase | 2m½f | Class 1, 5yo+ |
| Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase | 3m | Class 2, 5yo+ |
| Scottish Champion Hurdle (Handicap) | 2m | Grade 2, 4yo+ |
| Mares’ Handicap Hurdle | 3m½f | Class 2, 4yo+ |
| Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase | 4m | Class 1, 5yo+ |
| Novices’ Handicap Hurdle | 3m½f | Class 3, 4yo+ |
| Novices’ Hurdle | 2m4½f | Class 2, 4yo+ |
| Open National Hunt Flat Race | 2m | Class 2, 4-6yo |
Scottish Grand National Racing Trends & Stats
This race has a lot of history, and we can produce Scottish Grand National tips today based on proper data from the past. You can always use a beginners guide to get you started, but here’s the real data and trends:
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9 of the last 10 Scottish National winners (90%) carried 11st 4lbs or less to victory.
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6 of the last 10 winners (60%) were placed fifth or lower in the betting (three favourites).
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5 of the last 10 betting odds for Scottish Grand National winners (50%) were 14/1 or higher.
Winning Scottish Grand National betting odds over the last ten years range from 4/1 to 33/1. The average SP was 15/1, and the median figure is 11/1.
Scottish Grand National runners can carry up to 11st 12lbs, yet most winners carry no more than 11-04. The lowest winning weight in our period was 10-0 (bottom weight), the highest was 11-10, the average was 10-10 and the median was the same. Solid Scottish Grand National tips can be based on this.
Ayr Racecourse Tips
One of the top tips for Scottish Grand National bettors is to know more about Ayr Racecourse. Left-handed and reasonably sharp, Ayr has a downhill run towards the home turn and a short uphill finish. Ground conditions are key – soft going rewards patience, while when it’s quick, smart front-runners can get away from the field. A fair mix of speed and stamina is needed.
Recent Scottish Grand National Winners
To be a Scottish Grand National winner, horse and rider must cope with Ayr properly. These are the last ten successful combinations.
| Year | Winning Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Captain Cody | 9/1 | Harry Cobden | Willie Mullins |
| 2024 | Macdermott | 18/1 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2023 | Kitty’s Light | 4/1JF | Jack Tudor | Christian Williams |
| 2022 | Win My Wings | 13/2CF | Rob James | Christian Williams |
| 2021 | Mighty Thunder | 8/1 | Tom Scudamore | Lucinda Russell |
| 2020 | Cancelled | |||
| 2019 | Takingrisks | 25/1 | Sean Quinlan | Nicky Richards |
| 2018 | Joe Farrell | 33/1 | Adam Wedge | Rebecca Curtis |
| 2017 | Vicente | 9/1JF | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls |
| 2016 | Vicente | 14/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls |
| 2015 | Wayward Prince | 25/1 | Robbie Dunne | Hilary Parrott |
Upcoming Horse Racing Events
No upcoming events.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Bookmark this page and come back regularly for the latest Scottish Grand National betting tips and info. Remember to use your free bets where you can, and also that ante-post odds for Scottish Grand National runners are when betting value is at its highest. Keep our stats and trends in mind before placing a bet.
Scottish Grand National FAQs
Coral is the official race sponsor, so should be offering some good deals. Sister site Ladbrokes may well follow suit.
Right here. Bookmark us to see Scottish Grand National latest odds when they’re available.
Only use us for professional Scottish Grand National tips. Our information is analytical and based on years of experience.
Yes, most bookmakers offer free bet deals for new customers which can be used on horse racing.
Not yet. Entries will come in, along with ante-post betting, a few weeks before the race.
On Saturday 18 April 2026, one week after the Grand National at Aintree.
TBC – the 2025 running went off at 3:35pm.
Captain Cody (9/1) won the Scottish Grand National for trainer Willie Mullins.