Thomson hopes Hill Sixteen doesn't have mountain to climb in Scottish Grand National

Scottish trainer Sandy Thomson is itching for a Grand National win in his homeland and will send Hill Sixteen and The Ferry Master to Ayr on Saturday, April 2.

The Berwickshire handler has had several near misses in the Coral Scottish Grand National in recent runnings but has his fingers crossed that this is his year.

"I've been second, third and fourth, so it would be great to win one," said Thomson.

"Dingo Dollar and The Ferry Master were second and fourth last year, Seeyouatmidnight finished third a few years ago (2016).

"It doesn't appear to have been the luckiest race for us, but hopefully that will change on Saturday."

The Ferry Master is a general 16/1 shot for this year's renewal and fininished fourth in the 2021 running of the four mile test.

"I'm delighted with The Ferry Master. He'd been off the track for a while before Newcastle," the trainer added.

"We could have done without Hill Sixteen getting 9lb for his run at Kelso. If he'd not run there and been 9lb better off, he'd be a much shorter price, but that's where we are and we'll get on with it.

"Both horses go there with a great chance, I think."

Monday's confirmation stage saw 31 horses left in Ayr, with the weights topped by Shark Hanlon's Irish raider Hewick on 11st 12lb.

Welsh trainer Christian Williams has the two market leaders Kitty's Light and Eider Chase winner Win My Wings while Pat Fahy, who trained Mister Fogpatches to finish third last year looks likely to send Stormy Judge and History Of Fashion from County Carlow.

He said: "I need to have a look at the confirmations and we'll go from there.

"Distance looks to be History Of Fashion's forte because he always seems to be doing his best work at the end of a race. He stayed on well up the hill in Naas the last day over three miles and he's in good form.

"I thought Stormy Judge ran a good race in the Leinster National (finished fifth). We felt he would need it and he kind of jumped himself into the race too early and petered out, but he still stayed on well at the end."