talkSPORT betting tips – Best racing bets and expert advice for Ayr’s Scottish Grand National
Day two of the 2025 Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr is the highlight on Saturday, with lots of competitive handicaps for racing fans to enjoy.
The card features a whole host of raiders from Irish powerhouse Willie Mullins, who is trying to amass as much prize-money as possible in his quest for back-to-back British trainers’ titles.
Our expert, Harry Wilson, has a trio of selections on the card, including one in the feature race, one in the second, and another in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle on the card.
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Saturday’s horse racing tips
- 13:43 Ayr - Whistle Stop Tour @ with talkSPORT BET
- 14:15 Ayr - Ethical Diamond @ with talkSPORT BET
- 15:35 Ayr - Hasthing @ with talkSPORT BET
13:43 Ayr -
Willie Mullins landed the CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase last year with Sharjah and relies solely on Loughlynn for the 2025 edition.
A Grade 2 winner as a novice hurdler, Loughlynn has had just three starts over fences, all in beginners’ chases, and warrants respect on his handicap debut for powerful connections.
However, he may have to play second fiddle to local trainer Lucinda Russell, who looks sure to have a big say with Whistle Stop Tour.
The Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle has to be considered one of the most competitive races on the card.
Willie Mullins is mob-handed, with four runners in the 12-strong field, and his Ethical Diamond appeals most.
The County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival was a steadily run affair and those who raced closer to the pace were always going to be favoured, so Ethical Diamond, who was held up in rear, emerged with plenty of credit.
He made up plenty of ground to be beaten just three and three-quarter lengths behind Kargese and has been preferred for this contest over that stablemate and County Hurdle third Absurde, who both featured in the entries.
Willie Mullins saddled the 1-4-5-6 in the Scottish Grand National last year and runners from the powerhouse trainer dominate the market for the feature this time.
However, first-time cheekpieces could work wonders for Hasthing and he is preferred for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill.
He stayed on from what looked an almost impossible position to land a competitive 2m6f event at Windsor in January on soft ground before looking a touch outpaced at Ascot next time, both runs suggesting he might be suited by a proper test of stamina.
*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change
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