Auroras Encore is bidding for an outstanding Grand National double at Ayr today.

The first Yorkshire-trained horse in more than 50 years to win the Aintree version is now targeting victory in the Scottish contest.

While it would be wonderful to see Auroras Encore, trained at Bingley by Sue Smith, complete a double last achieved by the redoubtable Red Rum in the 1970s, his chances of winning £180,000 Coral Scottish Grand National look remote in my book.

A combination of a hard race at Aintree, combined with a weight rise which sees him carrying the welter burden of 11st 12lb here, plus ground which promises to be softer than his ideal, sets him a formidable task.

Preference is for Rebeccas Choice, who has been in excellent form on his last three starts and who figures on a handy 10st 4lb in a race in which horses weighted less than 11st have a good record. The ten-year-old is trained by Dai Burchell and is the mount of Donal Fahy.

Elsewhere on the same card, two Ryedale trainers have good prospects of figuring among the winners.

Nawton-based David O’Meara saddles the tongue-twister Ifandbutwhynot in the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle, while Fentara represents Tim Walford, from Sheriff Hutton, in the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Ifandbutwhynot ran a sound race at the Cheltenham Festival to finish ninth in the County Hurdle, having previously won a competitive handicap in gritty style at Musselburgh.

Also a winner at Cheltenham and Newcastle this season, the North Yorkshire gelding may have nothing in hand of the handicapper these days, but he is a thoroughly decent horse and his claims in this Grade 2 contest are to be underestimated.

Fentara did not appear at the Cheltenham Festival and has had an 11-week break since finishing third to the useful Goulanes in a Grade 2 race at Wetherby.

Previously a wide-margin winner at Kelso, the eight-year-old is entitled to go well in this £60,000 event.

Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell would doubtless give her right arm to have a winner or two on this of all days, and she has some good chances, not least with Tap Night and Green Flag.

Tap Night (2.05) ran a blinder when finishing second to Captain Conan in Grade 1 company at Aintree a couple of weeks ago, while Green Flag (4.25), a particular favourite of Russell’s, drops back in distance on his first start since finishing second on this course six weeks ago.

The Flat turf season may be beginning to hit top gear, but tomorrow is, remarkably, a Flat-free day in Britain with three jumps meetings providing the action, including an extra meeting at Newcastle.

Best bet on the card promises to be another Russell runner, Imjoeking, in the Real Radio Handicap Hurdle.

Twice a winner this season, Imjoeking was a beaten favourite at Carlisle last time out, but that was a messy race which was run at a dawdle before developing into a sprint finish. Jockey Peter Buchanan is expected to execute more positive tactics this time on Imjoeking, who looks extremely well handicapped for a horse of his quality and potential.

Lord Wishes should appreciate the drop in class in the Sendrig Construction Novices’ Hurdle.

James Ewart’s highly-regarded inmate has run well on his last two starts.


Racing selections

Ayr today
1.30 Trucking Along, 2.05 Tap Night, 2.40 Ifandbutwhynot, 3.15 Petit Robin, 3.50 Rebeccas Choice, 4.25 Green Flag, 5.00 Fentara, 5.35 Tradewinds.

Today’s other meetings: Bangor, Newbury, Nottingham, Thirsk and Wolverhampton.

Newcastle tomorrow
2.20 Lord Wishes, 2.50 Trust Thomas, 3.20 Lord Of Drums, 3.50 Imjoeking (NAP), 4.20 Full Speed, 4.50 Zitenka, 5.20 Mister Nibbles, 5.50 Izzini.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Stratford and Wincanton.