Scottish Grand National - Betting Odds, Tips & Runners List
The 144th Scottish Grand National will take place on Saturday, 12th April 2025 at the iconic Ayr Racecourse. This is part of the two-day Coral Scottish Grand National Festival, which will host 15 different races in total. Below, we’ll analyse the ante post Scottish Grand National betting odds in detail, while offering some expert horse racing tips on how to wager your hard-earned bankroll.
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🎲 Scottish Grand National Betting Odds – Outrights
JohnnyWho is the narrow ante-post favourite to win the 2025 Scottish Grand National, with the eight-year-old gelding placing in all five career outings so far. But who else is expected to shine at Ayr this year? Below, we highlight the top contenders for the big race along with the 2025 odds.
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⚠️Odds are subject to change. Please check before placing your bets.
🏇 Scottish Grand National Runners: Confirmed Horses & Entries.
A quick look at the Scottish National 2025 runners shows a competitive field, with 60 horses set to line up. Below, you'll find a full breakdown of the Scottish Grand National 2025 entries, including the runners list, their age, trainers, and recent form.
Key Contenders Runners List
Notable Challengers Runners List
Other Confirmed Runners List
💡 Scottish Grand National Betting Tips
Now that you’re familiar with the 2025 Scottish Grand National runners, entries, and odds, let’s take a closer look at key historical trends. Our expert betting tips, backed by detailed analysis, will help you make more informed choices ahead of the big race.
- Check Runners aged between 8 and 10: Of the last 21 Scottish Grand National renewals, an incredible 17 have been won by runners aged eight or older. If we drill down deeper into this statistic, we see that 14 winners have been aged between eight and 10. This trend suits ante post favourite JohnnyWho and The Changing Man (who are both eight), although 13.00-shot Quai De Bourbon is much younger at just six years old. So, the two initial front-runners definitely offer value, particularly from an each-way betting perspective.
- Give Weight to Lucinda Russell-trainer Runners: Not only did Lucinda Russell train 2021 winner Mighty Thunder, but she also boasts the best overall record at Ayr during the previous five jump seasons. More specifically, she has won 58 of her 335 runs here since 2020 (17.31%), while earning 167 placed finishes (49.85%). Russell is fielding Apple Away and Whistle Stop Tour in this year’s race, with the former having placed in the top two in three of her previous four outings. Russell is also the 12th-best performing jump trainer in 2024/25, winning 71 of her 486 runs overall (14.60%).
- Consider Runners who Have Won Over 3 Miles or More: Of the last 21 Scottish Grand National iterations, 15 have been won by runners who had previously prevailed over three miles or more. Among the 2025 entrants, Lucinda Russell’s 11.00-shot Whistle Stop Tour won by 3¾ lengths over three miles at Ayr in January, while competing in the Karaoke At The Golf Inn Prestwick Handicap Chase. The Willie Mullins-trained Macdermott won the 2024 Scottish Grand National over four miles too, and the seven-year-old will compete again this year.
🔮 Scottish Grand National Predictions
JohnnyWho (who’s trained by Jonjo & A J O'Neill) is the Coral Scottish Grand National 2025 favourite after losing by just a neck to Daily Present in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. The Changing Man was also a runner-up to Myretown in the Ultima Handicap Chase. You can learn more about the most fancied runners by checking out our Ayr Scottish Grand National predictions below.
⚡Best Scottish Grand National Betting Sites
To identify the best Scottish Grand National betting sites, our team has thoroughly reviewed licensed licensed Irish bookmakers. Here’s our expert pick of the top four sites and what makes them stand out from the competition.
DirectionBet
DirectionBet Sports offers extensive coverage of UK and Irish horse racing, including the 2025 Scottish Grand National. The site also lists extensive and easily accessible runner data, including their age, the weight they’ll be required to carry and their most recent odds history. During the course of our DirectionBet review, we uncovered several promotions for new and existing players. The welcome offer comprises a 100% first deposit match up to $100, while you can also earn reload bonuses and up to €50 in free bet tokens each month.
Boylesports
BoyleSports is one of the premier Irish sportsbooks for horse racing and National Hunt betting. When wagering on events like the Scottish Grand National, you can access additional each-way places and increase your chances of winning, while you may also have your stake refunded as a free bet if your runner finishes second to a starting favourite. In our BoyleSports review, you’ll find details of the site’s welcome offer too. This unlocks up to €30 in free bets when you initially wager €10 at minimum odds of 2.00.
Spreadex
Next on our list is Spreadex, which is the only site that offers both fixed odds and spread betting. This sportsbook offers extensive coverage of horse racing and events like the Scottish Grand National, where each-way bets will pay out at odds of 1/5 across the first five places.
As a fixed odds bettor, you’re eligible to receive up to €60 in free bets. Simply place a €10 fixed odds wager at 1.50 or above to qualify. Your bonus will include 3 x £10 fixed odds free wagers and 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets. You can learn more about these promotions by reading our Spreadex review.
LeoVegas
LeoVegas Sports is one of the best sites for horse racing in Ireland. This sportsbook is particularly renowned for its horse racing specials and competitive ante post odds, while you can also live stream selected meetings through the website. There are two sports welcome offers at LeoVegas. The first entitles you to €30 in free bets when you wager €10 at odds of 1.50 or greater. You can also claim a 100% profit boost on your first bet, up to the value of €100. You’ll have to place an initial €10 qualifying bet at minimum odds of 2.00.
📊 Ayr Racecourse Key Facts
Despite being inaugurated in 1867, the Scottish Grand National didn’t move to Ayr Racecourse until 1966. This means that the race is now contested over four miles (6,538 metres), on a left-handed, galloping oval track with a short, one furlong run-in. The race course itself measures just short of one-and-a-half miles and it comprises nine fences. So, over the course of the four-mile race, runners will have to navigate three laps and 27 highly challenging jumps.
The good news for the 2025 Scottish Grand National runners is that the course has well-graduated and manageable turns, along with a steady downhill run towards the home turn. However, runners must contend with a slight upward slope as they approach the finish line. During the spring and winter months, the going at Ayr tends to be firm and the course sharp. Because of this and the steady downward run towards the home turn, runners who are prominent and like to lead from the front are likely to perform well during the Scottish National. Leaders can certainly build momentum as they approach the home turn.
3 Ayr Racecourse Facts:
- Not only is Lucinda Russell the most successful Ayr trainer over last five seasons, but she also has a 13-66 win record during the 2024/25 jump campaign
- Jockey Derek Fox has performed the best at Ayr this season, winning on seven of his 27 outings (25.92%). He has also recorded the most wins here since the beginning of 2020 (29)
- Over the last five seasons, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede are the most successful owners at Ayr. Their runners have won 18 out of 71 races during this time (25.35%)
ℹ️ Scottish Grand National Jockey & Trainer Statistics
When picking potential winners of the Coral Scottish Grand National in 2025, analysing the relevant jockey and trainer combinations is crucial. As we’ve touched on, some trainers have an outstanding track record at Ayr, while certain runners and jockeys may also benefit from the course’s largely downhill run. Other jockeys and trainers may also be performing particularly well during the current season. Here’s a summary of the leading jump jockeys and trainers in 2024/25 so far.
Top 5 Jump Jockeys
Let’s start by looking at the top five jump jockeys in 2024. Sam Twiston-Davies has won 100 of his 610 runs in 2024/25 (16.39%) and ranks third overall, while he won consecutive Scottish Nationals when riding Vicente in 2016 and 2017.
Top 5 Jump Trainers
All of the five best jump trainers in 2024/25 have entered runners into this year’s Scottish National. These include Paul Nicholls, who also trained Vicente to consecutive wins at Ayr in 2016 and 2017. 2024 winner Macdermott was also trained by the excellent and prolific Willie Mullins stable.
📃 Scottish Grand National 2025 Dates
The Scottish Grand National is part of a two-day festival at Ayr, while it’s also one of several standout events at the course scheduled throughout the year. Here’s a look at some of the key dates and fixtures in 2025.
🎯 BetInIreland’s Final Say
Contested over four miles and 27 jumps, the Scottish Grand National is difficult to both win and predict. To this end, there have been just two multiple winners since 2003, while no trainer has produced more than two victors during the same period. However, our team's expert betting tips and detailed bookmaker reviews can help you to make the most informed selections. You can also leverage qualifying sportsbook bonuses to maximise any potential returns.
❓ SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL BETTING FAQS
Are Ante-post bets available on the Scottish Grand National?
Yes, all of our recommended betting sites have published ante post odds ahead of the 2025 Scottish Grand National. These odds are highly competitive too, as you can back ante post favourite JohnnyWho at 9.00 at the time of writing.
Who will win the 2025 Scottish Grand National?
Although Johnny Who is the current favourite, he’ll face significant competition from The Changing Man, Hyland and Apple Away. Lucinda Russell’s Whistle Stop Tour also offers value as an each-way pick, especially having previously won over three miles and more.
Where can I watch the Scottish Grand National 2025 in Ireland, and what time does it start?
You can watch the 2025 Scottish Grand National live on Racing TV in Ireland, with the race set to start at 15:35. You may also be able to live stream the race through selected sportsbooks, including LeoVegas Sport and William Hill.
What are the best bookmakers for betting on the Scottish Grand National in Ireland?
Our pick as the best Scottish National betting site is DirectionBet Sports. However, BoyleSports offer a huge selection of bonuses (including additional each-way places), while LeoVegas provides customers with competitive ante post odds and unique specials. We’d urge you to read our bookmaker reviews to identify the best site for you.
What is the Ayr Festival all About?
The two-day Coral Scottish Grand National Festival features 15 races in total, including the National. Another standout event is the Coral Handicap Hurdle, which takes place on Friday, April 11th and is a Class 2 race. This is open to runners aged four years and older, while the race takes place on Ladies’ Day at the Grand National Festival.
How many runners participate in the Scottish Grand National?
This year, 60 runners have been entered into the Scottish Grand National. This is a large and competitive field, although it may shrink slightly in the build-up to the race. Willie Mullins has contributed most entrants at the time of writing, with 13 runners including the 2024 winner Macdermott.
Lewis Humphries
A business and iGaming copywriter from the UK, who has a passion for sports betting and remote casino betting. He's reviewed some of the world's leading casino platforms while creating blog posts and landing page content for various sports betting brands. His content has also been featured on a number of different sites, including Life Hack, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance and Business Insider. He also pens regular sports features for sites including 90 Minutes, Think Football Ideas and Sportsblog.