TOMORROW’S Coral Scottish Grand National (3:35) at Ayr looks to be as competitive renewal as there has been in recent seasons but surely many punters, particularly on this land, will keep it simple.

There’s 23 runners but just one Irish raider, the Pat Fahy-trained Mister Fogpatches. There’s no point messing about here, is there? Irish trainers have steamed through the big spring meetings in Britain so far, with a whopping 23 winners at Cheltenham and they made a significant impact at Aintree from just a handful of runners. Indeed, the first five home in the National were Irish-trained and we had the runaway Topham winner in Livelovelaugh.

It is through that horse that you get the closest link to Mister Fogpatches, who finished just two places behind him in a two-mile-five-furlong handicap chase at Leopardstown that is working out very well.

Indeed the result of the Topham was the final bit of convincing Fahy needed to send over this lightly-raced seven-year-old. The Leighlinbridge trainer told The Irish Field yesterday: “I was thinking if Livelovelaugh wins at Aintree, we’re definitely going to Ayr. But even aside from Livelovelaugh, Snugsborough Hall finished behind us at Leopardstown and he ran a great race in the Topham (fourth).

“We were a bit unlucky at Leopardstown as well. He got squeezed at the fence they had to bypass and he was nearly brought down at the last. It was a very good run.”

Fahy trained the dam of Mister Fogpatches, Jenniferjoe, to win six times for his cousin Joe, who held onto her for breeding after her racing career. She produced Stormy Judge, a full brother to Mister Fogpatches and who recently won a Grade B handicap chase in fine style at Navan.

“She was a great mare. Stormy Judge needs soft ground but Mister Fogpatches needs good and that’s why I’ve been holding on to him for the ground. I didn’t think he’d get into a Scottish National off his rating (129 BHA mark) but I’m delighted he did.

“I’m hopeful he’ll get the trip, he gets three miles anyway. Danny Mullins knows him well and I’m hoping he can just switch him off and get him into the race gradually. If it comes off we’ll be heroes and if it doesn’t hopefully we won’t be villains!”

Mister Fogpatches will aim to become the first Irish winner in over 150 years. The wait for a Scottish winner has been less, but nine years is long enough.

Nine of today’s 23-runner field are Scottish-trained, led by the favourite Aye Right, who represents Harriet Graham and will be ridden by regular partner Calum Bewley. Graham trains a small stable of eight horses alongside her role as clerk of the course at Musselburgh and Perth, and has overseen the Ayr showpiece herself too when covering for maternity leave.

“I’m really, really proud and privileged to be training him,” she said of the consistent nine-year-old, on a call hosted by Great British Racing.

“It’s a real racing area around here, and everyone’s into their horses. They’re all asking after him and saying he deserves to win one.

“When you look at his form he definitely has a chance. There’s a really nice, good feeling behind him. We’d love to win but it would be lovely if there was a Scottish winner. Maybe we could have the one-two-three-four – with Aye Right number one!

“That would be a good headline, ‘What are the English going to do about the Scottish runners?!’”

All eyes on Broome in Alleged

TODAY’S racing has an unusual look to it with the two main focus meetings moved to tomorrow and early starts to racing at Thirsk (11:10) and Bangor (11:25).

The alterations have been made in order not to clash with the ceremonial funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, which takes place at 3pm.

Racing at the Curragh runs as normal, with the focus on two excellent Group 3 contests, the Gladness Stakes and the Alleged Stakes. In the latter, Broome will be a hot favourite to build on an excellent comeback in the Listed Devoy Stakes at Naas on the first day of the turf season.

The son of Australia was part-sold to Japanese owner Masaaki Matsushima during his three-year-old campaign when the Arc was his primary aim. It was reported that legendary Japanese rider Yutaka Take would take the ride but unfortunately Broome never made it to ParisLongchamp and indeed only ran twice last season.

With that in mind, his comeback win at Naas, where he came right away from a useful field, was very promising and he could yet make up for lost time, with the Arc likely on his agenda again.

A Dullea double in Tramore?

THERE aren’t many tracks like Tramore in Ireland, where the bends and undulations present a unique test.

Cork trainer James Dullea must know exactly what it takes to win at the course because he has sent out significantly more winners there than any other track in Ireland. Since he began training, he has had 97 runners in Tramore, and 18 wins, twice more than at his next most successful track. That sequence produces a level stakes profit of +32.50, so punters may well latch on to his two runners tomorrow, who both have good recent form. Rocky’s Howya takes on the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle (2:03) and recent Thurles winner Castlegrange is in the Green Acre Handicap Chase (3:48).