How To Bet £20 ante-post on the Coral Scottish Grand National

It has been 27 years since a horse won the Eider Chase and Coral Scottish Grand National in the same season but Win My Wings, available at 8-1, looks to have outstanding prospects of pulling off the double at Ayr on Saturday.

The Jenny Pitman-trained Willsford was the last to scoop both long-distance chases, as a 12-year-old, in 1995. He also squeezed in a defeat at Newbury in between.

Win My Wings has had her powder kept dry since triumphing in decisive style at Newcastle and, given she was having only her seventh start over fences that day, remains unexposed, especially granted a stiff stamina test. That is a big plus with regard to Saturday’s showpiece, rarely won by a runner as old or as exposed as Willsford was.

The Eider is often a slog where the form is of little value going forwards but this season’s renewal was run on good ground and has substance, with runner-up Eclair Surf having previously been a runaway winner of the Classic Chase at Warwick. The pair pulled clear of Innisfree Lad and Court Master, who had also been winners on their previous outings, and all bar two of the 16 runners completed.

Supporters of Win My Wings never really had an anxious moment in the Eider, as she was always travelling well with first-time cheekpieces adding an extra degree of sharpness. She clearly relished the extreme distance and won in a good time.

She’s been pushed up 8lb in the ratings but that looks warranted and, unlike many of the other 30 possibles left in the race, she’s a guaranteed stayer who is versatile regards the ground and is open to more improvement.

Christian Williams, her trainer, has another leading contender in Kitty’s Light, who was unlucky not to win the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last season and ran well over a bare 3m at Kempton last time. He’s likeable, but no six-year-old has triumphed since Earth Summit in 1994 and I’m not sure Kitty’s Light is in his league.

The other worthy of an early interest is Cool Mix, who is 6lb lower than when a staying-on fifth in last year’s renewal.

Iain Jardine’s grey, quoted at 25-1 by Betfred, had a big stamina question to answer 12 months ago but he clearly got the trip well despite a couple of scruffy jumps. Like last year, he’s been kept fresh for this mission and he seems well served by decent ground, which looks on the cards given the dry weather forecast.

Fortescue is also on my radar as he looked better than ever when mastering Fiddlerontheroof at Ascot last time and looks as though he will be well suited by the demands of the race.

However, his connections face a dilemma as the Randox Grand National is a stated ambition. He’s currently 47th in line to run at Aintree on Saturday week, and not without hope of making the cut.

£15 win on Win My Wings at 8-1

£2.50 each-way on Cool Mix at 25-1 with Betfred (four places)