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The Morning Star 2026 Conference
Preview of this weekend’s racing with Farringdon: April 22-23
Including races at Ayr, Newbury and Thirsk
Rubaud ridden by Harry Cobden

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THE Scottish Grand National at Ayr (3.35) is the big betting race of the day and despite the forecast of some light showers, the ground is going to be very spring like and that along with the four-mile trip will be the two main factors in deciding the destination of this famous prize.

Those two combinations along with the sharp nature of the track could see this run at a cracking pace and make this be a proper marathon test and that may well suit the sure jumping novice FAMOUS BRIDGE (nap). Despite running around green last time out at Wetherby, the seven-year-old jumped brilliantly over those testing fences beating Lord of Kerak readily.

A line through that stayer to Monbeg Genius leaves him with something to find with the Jonjo O’Neill entry who has since gone on to run a cracker behind subsequent Grand National hero Corach Rambler at Cheltenham in the Handicap Chase. However, the last named has gone up from 122 to 145 this season and endured a pretty hard race that day. Of course he could still be improving, but a long and hard season could also come into play.

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