Scottish Grand National Tips: Big-Price Runners Set to Outrun Their Odds at Ayr
Date: Saturday, 18th April 2026
Time: 3:35pm
Race: Coral Scottish Grand National (Ayr)
Click HERE for the Scottish Grand National 2026 Runners
A Wide-Open Renewal With Value Lurking Beneath the Surface
If ever there was a race that invites a bit of rummaging around at bigger prices, it is the Scottish Grand National. A proper staying test, a long slog, and the sort of contest where reputations can unravel quicker than a cheap jumper in a hailstorm. This year’s renewal looks no different, and perhaps even more intriguing given the shifting landscape among the training ranks.
Last year, the Closutton machine rolled into Ayr with all the subtlety of a convoy and left with the spoils. Willie Mullins accounted for more than a quarter of the field and duly saddled the first two home, further tightening his grip on the trainers’ championship. However, the story this time around has taken a slightly different turn.
Dan Skelton has already wrapped up his first Champion Trainer title this season, meaning the usual late charge from Mullins is absent. Instead of an armada, the Irish maestro is represented by just one potential runner in the £200,000 feature: Road To Home, who was last seen finishing second in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival.
That shift alone adds a different flavour to proceedings. Without a dominant force flooding the race, the market has opened up, and suddenly the Scottish Grand National tips conversation becomes far more interesting.
The Market Suggests Opportunity for the Brave
Beyond King Of Answers, another Cheltenham Festival runner-up, every other horse in the race can be backed at 12-1 or bigger at the time of writing. That tells you everything you need to know. This is not a race for the faint-hearted punter who prefers tidy favourites and predictable outcomes. This is a race for those willing to embrace a bit of chaos and hunt for value.
Naturally, when bookmakers dangle prices like this, the temptation is to dive straight in. And with the ever-present lure of free bets and free bet bonuses floating around the market, there’s no shortage of incentive to have a go. One prominent name making waves is BOYLE Sports, who are currently offering new customers the rather appealing Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets deal. Not bad, especially if you fancy taking a swing at one of these bigger-priced runners.
Still, promotions aside, the real question remains: where exactly does the value lie?
Weather Could Hold the Key at Ayr
As ever with marathon contests, conditions are likely to play a significant role. A quick glance at the forecast suggests that testing ground could well be on the menu. That immediately shifts the spotlight onto proven stayers who relish a proper slog.
Enter Isaac Des Obeaux.
Fresh from a commanding victory in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, this eight-year-old has quietly put together a profile that screams “dangerous at a price”. Currently available at around 16-1, he ticks several boxes that punters often look for in Scottish Grand National tips.
His Uttoxeter win was not just a victory; it was a statement. Winning by eight lengths on soft ground, he showed both stamina and determination, qualities that are absolutely essential over Ayr’s demanding four miles. It was also his first attempt beyond three and a quarter miles, which makes the performance all the more noteworthy.
A Progressive Stayer With More to Give
Trained by Paul Nicholls, a man who knows a thing or two about winning this race—having saddled Vicente to back-to-back victories in 2016 and 2017—Isaac Des Obeaux arrives with a profile that suggests there could be more to come.
Despite being raised 7lb by the handicapper for that Uttoxeter success, he still looks fairly treated. He will run off a mark of 139, a figure that sits neatly within a range that has proven successful in recent years. In fact, three of the last four winners of the Scottish Grand National have prevailed off a mark of 140, which adds another layer of encouragement.
What makes him particularly appealing is his relative inexperience over fences. With just eight starts in that discipline, there is every chance he has not yet reached his ceiling. He is still learning, still improving, and crucially, still open to progress.
There is, admittedly, a slight quirk in his jumping. He has a tendency to edge right at times, which is never ideal in a race of this nature. However, it did not stop him last time, and if anything, he looked in complete control from a long way out. If he arrives at Ayr in similar form, he is likely to be finishing stronger than most.
The Veteran With a Point to Prove
While Isaac Des Obeaux represents the progressive angle, there is another contender lurking at a much bigger price who brings a different kind of appeal.
Our Power, trained by Sam Thomas, is available at around 33-1 and comes into the race with a quietly compelling profile. Now aged 11, he may not have the upside of a younger horse, but experience counts for plenty in a race like this.
He finished third in last year’s renewal off a mark 6lb higher than the one he carries this time. That alone should make people sit up and take notice. Dropped in the weights and returning to a race where he has already proven his effectiveness, he has the look of a horse capable of outrunning his odds.
A Season That Can Be Forgiven
On paper, his recent form does not leap off the page. However, context is everything, and each of his three runs this season can be excused to varying degrees.
His campaign began with a fall at the third in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle over the Grand National fences. Hardly ideal, but also not particularly indicative of his ability. He then ran into sixth in the Berkshire National at Ascot, carrying a hefty weight and plugging on gamely without ever threatening the leaders.
Most recently, he struggled in heavy ground at Wincanton, finishing behind Isaac Des Obeaux. That run can be marked down given the conditions, which were particularly testing.
With rain forecast for Ayr, the ground is unlikely to be as severe as it was at Wincanton. A return to slightly less attritional conditions could see him bounce back to something closer to his best form.
A Race That Rewards Stamina and Timing
One of the defining characteristics of the Scottish Grand National is its ability to expose weaknesses. Horses that travel well early can quickly find themselves empty turning for home, while those who conserve energy often come to the fore in the closing stages.
Both Isaac Des Obeaux and Our Power fit the mould of horses who should be staying on when others have cried enough. That alone makes them worthy of consideration, particularly at their respective prices.
Another factor to consider is the timing of the race within the broader calendar. Several entries have had recent outings at Aintree, which could leave them vulnerable to a quick turnaround. In contrast, fresher horses or those with lighter campaigns may hold an advantage.
Our Power, in particular, has not had a hard season. With just three runs under his belt since last year’s effort in this race, he arrives relatively fresh. That could prove significant in the closing stages.
Finding Value in a Competitive Field
When it comes to Scottish Grand National tips, the temptation is often to latch onto the obvious candidates. However, this is a race that regularly rewards those willing to dig a little deeper.
The combination of a wide-open market, potentially testing conditions, and a lack of a dominant trainer presence creates an environment where value can be found. It is not about certainty—because there is very little of that in a race like this—but about identifying horses who are capable of outperforming their odds.
Isaac Des Obeaux, with his progressive profile and recent form, looks well-equipped to do just that. Meanwhile, Our Power offers the kind of each-way appeal that is hard to ignore at 33-1.
Final Thoughts Ahead of Ayr
As the runners line up at Ayr, the stage is set for another gruelling and unpredictable Scottish Grand National. It is the kind of race that can make heroes of outsiders and leave favourites floundering.
For those dipping into the world of free betting or taking advantage of bookmaker offers, it presents an opportunity to get involved in one of the most fascinating contests of the jumps season.
Whether you favour the progressive improver or the seasoned campaigner, one thing is certain: this is a race where price and potential often collide in the most entertaining fashion.
Ante-Post Selections
ISAAC DES OBEAUX at 16-1 each-way
OUR POWER at 33-1 each-way