Scottish Grand National prize-money set at 'highest possible level'

Ayr and Coral have unveiled total prize-money of £150,000 for this year’s Scottish Grand National following concerns raised last month that the value of the race could be as low as £75,000.

The Coral Scottish Grand National was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and was worth £215,000 when run in 2019. The race was listed with a £75,000 prize fund in the Racing Calendar last month with officials uncertain what the final amount would be.

However, both the racecourse and the sponsor stressed the importance of the race and providing a suitable fund for owners, trainers and jockeys when announcing this year’s total, albeit the amount still represents a 30 per cent drop from 2019.

David Brown, Ayr’s managing director, said: "We are acutely aware of the position the race holds in the calendar. It sits right up there with the most prestigious races of the year and we felt it only right that, despite the difficulties horseracing faces due to the coronavirus epidemic, we maintained the prize-money at the highest possible level.

"Coral Scottish Grand National Saturday normally sells out weeks in advance but unfortunately we are unable to welcome any crowd at all to this year’s big day because of ongoing restrictions.”

Simon Clare: 'There will be no crowd this year but this has not affected our commitment'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Alongside their continued backing of the Scottish Grand National, Coral will also be sponsoring the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Simon Clare, Ladbrokes Coral PR director, said: “The Coral Scottish Grand National is quite simply one of jump racing’s most important races, being the fourth-biggest betting race in the calendar and the most prestigious race run in Scotland.

“So while sadly there will be no crowd this year, this has not affected our commitment and financial support for the event one iota, and we have worked closely with Ayr racecourse to ensure the big race is run for the maximum prize possible under the very challenging unique circumstances we continue to face.”

The Coral Scottish Grand National is scheduled to take place on April 17, although there have been calls for the contest to be swapped around with the Randox Grand National on April 10 to allow for the possibility of betting shops being open in England for the Aintree race. Betting shops in Scotland will open on April 26 at the earliest.

A spokesman for Ayr said on Wednesday that no-one at the course had been approached about changing the date of the races.

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