Scottish Grand National: Tom Collins likes a well-treated chaser in Saturday's feature

Christian Williams made it clear that his primary aim during the 2021/22 jumps season was to target notable staying chases, especially those shown on terrestrial television. There is no doubt that he has more than met his own expectations.

Among his 31 winners (a new career-best tally) this season, Williams has won rich Saturday prizes with Strictlyadancer, Five Star Getaway, Cap Du Nord and Win My Wings, who bolted up in the Eider Chase at Newcastle last month. The handicapper hit her with an 8lb penalty for that victory, but she’s out again relatively quickly as part of a two-strong attack from the Welsh trainer’s Ogmore-By-Sea base in the Scottish Grand National.

With stamina assured and cheekpieces retained, Win My Wings (9/1) appears to have cast-iron claims of backing up her recent success. Those worried about her hike in the weights will be pleased to see crack Irish amateur Rob James, who will take off 7lb, booked to ride.

However, she should still be regarded as Williams’ second string behind Kitty’s Light (8/1), who is winless after six starts this season but appears to have been geared up for this event. The light-framed six-year-old son of Nathaniel bounced right back to his best when second behind aforementioned stablemate Cap Du Nord at Kempton last month and will relish his first attempt at a stamina-sapping 4m.

If you remember back to Sandown last April, Kitty’s Light was involved in a controversial end to the 3m5f bet365 Gold Cup when he was taken out on the run-in as he appeared to have the race at his mercy. Perhaps connections have kept him ticking away with this race in mind. 

Kitty's Light (right): favourite for the Scottish Grand National

I respect both Williams runners and, although I prefer Kitty’s Light out of the pair, there could be a bigger improver in the field. When that’s the case, and the horse in question is available at a tastier price, it’s easier to avoid the market leaders.

We’re still flying high after SBK Lincoln winner Johan was tipped at 50/1 in this column last weekend, and hopefully Stormy Judge will be the horse to provide another double-figure-priced victor.

I envisaged Irish domination at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and, although that didn’t exactly pan out, they still won 18 of the 28 races over the four days. Just 24 hours after the spectacular showpiece meeting finished, Irish-trained runners filled the first two positions in the Midlands’ National as Screaming Colours led home Young Dev.

Stormy Judge (10/1) is the best of the Irish in this year’s Scottish National - I have little doubt about that - and the handicapper seems to have treated him pretty leniently despite trainer Pat Fahy clearly having this race in mind a long way out. We might be tallying another one for Ireland.

This seven-year-old took 15 attempts to get off the mark in Ireland, but he has always been labelled as a staying chaser in the making and took his form to a new level with back-to-back successes at Naas and Navan last Spring. 

The second of those wins showcased his abundant stamina. Stormy Judge, who was ridden cold out the back throughout the early stages of that 3m handicap chase, burst onto the scene between the final two fences and hit the line powerfully to deny the in-form Enjoy D’Allen a third win from his last four starts.

Owner JP McManus has subsequently purchased that rival with an eye on the Grand National at Aintree next Saturday, which is a pointer in its own right, and he also saddled third-home School Boy Hours, who was beaten a distance but has subsequently notched an impressive success in a big-field Leopardstown handicap off just 2lb lower.

Fahy has cleverly placed Stormy Judge this year. Kickstarting his campaign in a 2m handicap hurdle wasn’t even hiding the fact that was merely a prep run to eliminate the rust, while he moved up sweetly before getting tired late on when he was last seen at Naas.

He will be 100 per cent ready for this race and we’ve already seen the destruction he can cause when on-song. The handicapper has left him on his Irish mark of 139 and the excellent Danny Mullins has been booked. Providing he handles the good to soft ground (best efforts on heavy), he could upset the Christian Williams-trained pair.

Recommended bet

Stormy Judge (3.35 Ayr) @ 10/1