Coral to sponsor Scottish Grand National

THE 2007 Scottish Grand National will be the first one sponsored by leading bookmaker Coral after the previous joint sponsors Gala Casinos and the Daily Record ended their association with the race in 2006.

So it's a new name for Scotland's premier jumps race - the Coral Scottish Grand National - which once again will be packed with some of the best long distance chasers in training.

Last year's race as with the 2005 running produced a sensational finish which saw 33/1 shot Run For Paddy get the better of 7/1 joint favourite Ladalko by a short head. Royal Emperor was third at 50/1.

And as always with this race there was a real story to tell. Carl Llewellyn, for many years one of Britain's most successful jockeys, not only rode the winner he also trained it after taking out a licence just 13 days before the race. And Ruby Walsh, Ladalko's rider, suffered the ignominy of being beaten by a short head in the race for the second year in succession.

So its well worth making a date in your diary for Friday April 21 and Saturday April 22 the dates of the 2007 Coral Scottish Grand National Festival which promises to be every bit as good as previous runnings of this great race.

It was in 1966 the Scottish Grand National moved from Irvine Bogside to Ayr and down the years there have been some great horses and jockeys who have won the race including Peter Scudamore (Llittle Polvier), Graham Lee (Grey Abbey), Ruby Walsh (Take Control) and of course And who can forget Red Rum (Brian Fletcher) in 1974.

Over the years the quality of the race has improved and prizemoney in 2007 will be the biggest ever at around £160,000.

The two day festival has some great support races notably the Scottish Champion Hurdle and the Ashleybank Future Champion Novices' Chase and true jumps fans flock to the course to enjoy seeing the best horses, trainers and jockeys the sport provides.

Leading southern trainers like David Pipe, Paul Nicholls, Phillip Hobbs, Nigel Twiston-Davies and Henrietta Knight will lock horns with the north top exponents of the art including Howard Johnson, Ferdy Murphy, Nicky Richards and Lenny Lungo.

Jockeys you can expect to see at the Scottish Grand National Festival include he legendary AP McCoy, Timmy Murphy, Ruby Walsh, Tony Dobbin, Graham Lee, Russ Garrity and Tom Scudamore.

It's a meeting too that attracts great interest from Ireland, Yorkshire, Newcastle and indeed all over the UK and big fields are generally the order of the day in the Coral Scottish Grand National and as such the winner is generally returned at a decent price.

Several horses run in both the Grand National at Aintree (usually held a fortnight before the Scottish race) and in the Scottish Grand National although its now 32 years since Red Rum achieved that famous double.

But the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival isn't just about real quality racing - its also the chance for those who like an early Spring break to pack their bags and head for the beautiful Ayrshire coast.

The real racing aficionados will undoubtedly already have the date in their diaries but for those who like combining fun with and a holiday with one of the UK's great sporting occasions then the Coral Scottish Grand National can also provide that and a lot more.

The town of Ayr and its surrounding smaller towns like Troon and Prestwick boast some fabulous facilities including fine dining restaurants world renowned hotels and a host of championship golf courses including the legendary Royal Troon and Turnberry, both Open Championship courses and Prestwick where the first 12 Opens were played in the 19th century.

And of course if you book early enough there may just be some rooms left at the Racecourse's very own four star Western House Hotel.

So if it's a great day out you want with some superb racing and quality facilities book your tickets now.

Coral to sponsor Scottish Grand National

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