Earth to tackle Scottish National Martell Grand National disappointment Earthmover will bid for compensation in the stg#100,000 Scottish equivalent at Ayr on Saturday week, it was revealed today. The Paul Nicholls-trained 10-year-old was sent off at 22-1 for the Aintree showpiece but unseated Joe Tizzard at the fourth fence. Nicholls, who saddled Belmont King to win at Ayr in 1997, has five other possibles in the Gala Group-sponsored race this time - See More Business, who is top weight on 12st, Ad Hoc, Storm Damage, Flaked Oats and Murt`s Man. 'At the moment both Earthmover and Flaked Oats will definitely go for the Scottish Grand National. Both of them act on any ground and Earthmover is fine after his run in the Martell Grand National,' the trainer said. 'Ad Hoc and Murt`s Man are also possibles. They both want good ground and Murt`s Man really needs the weights to go up. 'Storm Damage will definitely not be running and it is about 50-50 at this stage whether See More Business will go for the race. We`ll see how he is next week and make a decision then.' See More Business also holds an entry in the Whitbread Gold Cup seven days later. Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup runner-up Gingembre is on course for Ayr. The gelding`s trainer Lavinia Taylor said: 'Gingembre is absolutely 100 per cent to run at Ayr as long the ground is not soft or heavy. It`s pretty obvious from his runs in the Hennessy and Great Yorkshire Chase (fourth) that he can`t quicken on softer ground, but on faster ground he can.' Hannigan`s Lodger, an improving novice trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won the race with Captain Dibble (1992) and Earth Summit (1994), is being considered for the race. Part-owner Nigel Payne said: 'The Scottish National is certainly in our thoughts and we`re looking at it very closely, as long as Hannigan`s Lodger is not too far out of the handicap.' Scottish trainer Len Lungo has four entries - Birkdale, Celtic Giant, Mike Stan and Dr Bones - but will not finalise his plans until nearer the time.
