The Scottish Grand National takes centre stage on Saturday afternoon as Willie Mullins targets the Ayr showpiece in his continuing quest to be crowned champion trainer in Britain for the first time.

ITV Racing is broadcasting five contests from the West Coast course, including the big one at 3.35pm, as well as four from Newbury, where the Spring Trials meeting concludes with a card headlined by the Greenham Stakes at 2.40pm.

The action will be shown live on ITV1 from 1.00pm – and we have got a selection for all nine broadcast races.

ITV Racing tips – Ayr and Newbury, Saturday April 20

Here is the list of Enda McElhinney’s recommendations for this afternoon’s programme. You can read the analysis behind his selections below. 

Add these tips directly to your bet slip by clicking on each pick.

Odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

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1.15, Ayr – Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (2m ½f)

Mullins saddles Uncle Phil in his pursuit of more prize money in the first ITV race of the afternoon. The Walk In the Park gelding demands respect, given his connections, but he will need to show more from a mark of 150 – and top weight TOMMY’S OSCAR is the pick for Ann Hamilton. The elder statesman of the field, at nine years old, he showed in his comeback win at Kelso last October that a big weight is no barrier to success and he is now back on the same mark – 152 – having held his form consistently since.

Selection: Tommy’s Oscar @ 13/2 with Betfred

1.30, Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (1m 4f, Group 3)

St Leger second ARREST could go on to better things this season and his authoritative success in last year’s Chester Vase over this trip on soft ground means he has to be respected. The Frankel colt, now a four-year-old, can again start the campaign in winning fashion.

Selection: Arrest @ 6/5 with Betfred

1.50, Ayr – CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (3m)

Bar a blip at Doncaster in December, Harry Fry’s DEEPER BLUE has taken well to chasing this season with three runner-up finishes in four starts. He has been raised 3lb for his previous outing but remains unexposed at this distance and may not need to improve too much in first-time cheekpieces to get his head in front.

Selection: Deeper Blue @ 7/1 with Betfred

2.05, Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Stakes (7f, Fillies’ Group 3)

Relief Rally will be hard to stop if she sees out this trip – but that is no certainty. Regal Jubilee will stay the distance but FOLGARIA is of interest on his British bow for Marco Botti. The Due Diligence filly was an impressive winner of an Italian Group 2 in the autumn, has plenty of experience and could make an immediate impact.

Selection: Folgaria @ 5/1 with Betfred

2.25, Ayr – Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m, Limited Handicap, Grade 2)

Rubaud is 13lb higher than when making all to win this race a year ago and PETIT TONNERRE could have his measure this time around. He weakened late on in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but had moved well for a long way on his first hurdles start in a year. He has been eased 4lb in the weights and now sports new headgear, which could be key.

Selection: Petit Tonnerre @ 22/1 with Betfred

2.40, Newbury – Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (7f, Group 3)

ZOUM ZOUM is three from three and stepped up into Listed company to win a valuable race in France last November in good style. Ralph Beckett’s gelding showed during his winning run that he likes soft ground and, with plenty in his favour on Saturday, he can take the next step up the ladder on his seasonal bow.

Selection: Zoum Zoum @ 5/4 with Betfred

3.00, Ayr – Jordan Electrics Ltd Seafield Trophy Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3m)

LARCHMONT LASS won a Wincanton novice hurdle over 2m 5½f in February for Paul Nicholls and she shaped with plenty of promise at Newbury on her handicap bow last month over an inadequate trip. That run offers plenty of hope that a greater test of stamina should bring about some improvement. A mark of 113 could be lenient for her in that scenario.

Selection: Larchmont Lass @ 11/2 with Betfred

3.15, Newbury OLBG Spring Cup Handicap (1m)

Former Godolphin inmate NOBLE ORDER defied a 456-day absence to win at Newcastle in fine style on his first start for Archie Watson in February. His sole previous outing on turf was on soft going, when he split subsequent Group winners Claymore and My Prospero. A 6lb ratings hike looks fair and he has been given a nice break to get over his comeback success before this rise in class.

Selection: Noble Order @ 12/1 with Betfred

3.35, Ayr – Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (4m)

The Willie Mullins juggernaut is in full working order and Ireland’s champion trainer saddles six contenders in his pursuit of the British trainers’ title. Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton will attempt to thwart him in Scotland’s biggest race but the Closutton chief may find his chief danger comes from a source closer to home.

WHACKER CLAN finished third in last month’s Kim Muir at Cheltenham, cutting out the running before subsequent Aintree Grade 1 novice winner Inothewayurthinkin laid down the law. But if Henry de Bromhead’s charge can see out the marathon trip, he has got the wherewithal to be a big player under Rachael Blackmore.

Selection: Whacker Clan @ 12/1 with Betfred

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