{"id":12468,"date":"2025-04-11T09:38:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T09:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/?p=12468"},"modified":"2025-04-11T09:38:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T09:38:59","slug":"ayr-races-preview-12-april-scottish-champion-hurdle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/04\/11\/ayr-races-preview-12-april-scottish-champion-hurdle\/","title":{"rendered":"Ayr Races Preview – Scottish Champion Hurdle Headlines Saturday Supporting Card"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ayr<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Western Meeting apart, Ayr races doesn’t have a more important fixture than its two-day Scottish Grand National Festival. After a rather humble opening on Friday, the action goes up several games on Saturday, 12 April.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A race as important as the Scottish Grand National of 2025<\/a> is worth detailed analysis on its own. You can read all about the feature Premier Handicap over a marathon trip of four miles elsewhere on the site.<\/p>\n

The supporting card isn’t too shabby either. Chief among it is the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle, a limited handicap with some fine horses taking part. Handicaps in general play a huge part at Ayr races in general.<\/p>\n

Don’t tell Musselburgh, but this really is the top racecourse in Scotland. This particular day of racing is as good as National Hunt action north of the border gets. Supported by plenty of Irish raiders and runners from southern England, it contains some tricky puzzles.<\/p>\n

Mares compete over hurdles for the Seafield Trophy, while the action gets underway with another Premier Handicap chase at a shorter trip. There is also the Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase over three miles with all the action broadcast live on ITV.<\/p>\n

While the jumps season soon draws to a close, we don’t go easy on our experts who follow the sport. They pore over all the form and prices on horse racing betting sites<\/a> in search of a bit of value. Find out what they picked out below for this Premier Raceday…<\/p>\n

Ayr Races Preview for Saturday, 12 April<\/h2>\n

1:10 – 2m 110y Premier Handicap Chase<\/h3>\n

\"JimmyA tricky opener featuring race regulars like\u00a0Tommy’s Oscar\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Malystic<\/strong>. At this stage of their careers, however, these northern English horses look vulnerable to young legs. Gavin Cromwell brings\u00a0THE OTHER MOZZIE\u00a0<\/strong>over from Ireland again and notably drops him back in trip.<\/p>\n

Connections ran this horse over 2m 4f at the Cheltenham Festival, but he also held an entry in the Grand Annual. The shorter distance may be more like it for The Other Mozzie, based on his impressive Naas victory in January. Willie Mullins saddles Western Diego<\/strong>, meanwhile, and he could be anything.<\/p>\n

Runner-up at Punchestown last time out despite jumping left, he now makes his handicap chase bow. Western Diego should based on that latest effort and tenderly handled fourth on his debut over fences around Leopardstown. For Scotland, meanwhile,\u00a0Traprain Law\u00a0<\/strong>is in contention as he’s only seven.<\/p>\n

Lucinda Russell isn’t running as many at Ayr races as expected, but this one knows his way around the course and has time on his side. Few others make any real appeal. The old warhorses look like their best days are behind them, while Etalon<\/strong> has been very disappointing for the Dan Skelton stable.\u00a0Homme Public\u00a0<\/strong>may find this a little on the sharp side.<\/p>\n

1:45 – 3m Class 2 Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase<\/h3>\n
\n

\ud83c\udfc6 @WilliamHill<\/a> Best Odds Guaranteed Novices\u2019 Limited Handicap Chase \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd47 Lord of Thunder
\n\ud83e\udd48 Pic Roc
\n\ud83e\udd49 Herakles Westwood<\/p>\n

Brendan Powell rides Lord Of Thunder to victory for trainer Joe Tizzard \ud83d\udca5@brendanp1995<\/a> | @TizzardRacing<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/miCOQIGAtG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) February 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n