This Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr might not have the prestige, prize money or quite the class of Aintree’s John Smith’s Grand National, but it nevertheless looks a fascinating contest, and one in which Sue Smith’s Himalayan Trail could go well at a decent price, writes Elliot Slater.

Now that connections of the mighty Denman have resisted the temptation to run, nearly all the other runners in the race would have been some way out of the handicap had he taken his chance, Himalayan Trail gets to run off an attractive weight of just 10st 5lbs and looks primed to give a good account of himself.

The winner of the 2008 Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter subsequently endured a pretty lean time of things and rather lost his form until bouncing back off a reduced handicap mark to win well at Haydock in February. A subsequent 12lb rise in the weights after that victory proved no barrier to success as the 11-year-old stayed on bravely to win a good prize at Carlisle last time out. Now back to something close to his best form, Himalayan Trail could yet defy a further hike up the weights and with no doubts about stamina and his will to win clearly intact, he could represent excellent horse racing bet at 33/1.

Jimmy Moffatt’s Chief Dan George, who was balloted out of the big race at Aintree last week, is also set to miss the Ayr event, while last year’s runner-up Gone To Lunch, trained in Ireland by Homer Scott, will surely be on the premises having been trained specifically for this race since his fine effort 12 months ago.