Carbury Cross favourite for Scottish National

Carbury Cross has been installed as the short-priced favourite for the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.

The eight-year-old, who carries owner Anne Duchess of Westminster`s colours immortalised by Arkle, is only 5-2 with William Hill and 3-1 with both Coral and the Tote for the Stg#100,000 prize over four miles and one furlong for which 38 horses were left in at today`s confirmation stage.

He was an impressive winner, by 18 lengths from Enrique, of the Martell V.S. Handicap Chase at Aintree last week, a victory that earned him a 5lb penalty for Ayr bringing him into the handicap proper on 10st 3lb.

His trainer Jonjo O`Neill has a particularly strong hand, having also left in Cheltenham Festival winner Rith Dubh, Mini Sensation and Lanmire Tower.

The weights are unlikely to rise as top weight Marlborough is expected to take his chance despite having to carry the welter burden of 11st 12lb.

The Nicky Henderson-trained 10-year-old, a first-fence faller in the Martell Grand National, finished sixth to Paris Pike in this race two years ago. Henderson has also left in Artic Jack while owner Sir Robert Ogden could be doubly-represented with the Philip Hobbs-trained Enrique.

Other Aintree first-fence casualties likely to seek compensation are Paris Pike, Inn At The Top and Carryonharry.

Paris Pike bids to become the first horse since Androma (1984 & 1985) to win back-to-back Scottish Nationals.

'Paris Pike is 100 per cent after Aintree and he must have a good chance,' said trainer Ferdy Murphy this afternoon.

JP McNamara gets the mount on the 2000 winner but Murphy has not yet booked a jockey for his other hopeful Narrow Water. The nine-year-old is 17lb out of the handicap and is not yet guaranteed a run as he needs one to come out.

The maximum field allowed is 30 and 27 horses are out of the handicap.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe may well be five-handed in Saturday`s racewith his quintet headed by recent Aintree runner-up Cyfor Malta.

As well as Cyfor Malta, who chased home Florida Pearl in the Martell Cup, Pipe has left in Take Control, Iris Bleu, Carryonharry and Dark Stranger.

The champion trainer said today: 'We may well run all five as they all seem in good form.

'Cyfor Malta has never run over the trip (four miles and a furlong) before but he`s staying better as he gets older and he ran a fabulous race at Aintree. He`ll have the visor on once again.

'Take Control and Iris Bleu are both owned, like Cyfor Malta, by David Johnson and they may well go as well.'