Stand Heads National Field Take The Stand will carry top-weight in the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday after 23 runners were declared for the marathon contest today. The Peter Bowen-trained Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, who unseated Leighton Aspell at the Chair at Aintree last weekend, will be ridden for the first time by Richard Johnson. Chives is next in the weights, followed by by Martin Pipe´s Comply Or Die and 2003 runner-up Stormez. The champion trainer is also represented by Iris Bleu and Control Man, with his title rival Paul Nicholls saddling Colourful Life and Cornish Rebel, who will be the mount of Ruby Walsh as he seeks a `grand slam´ of National following his victories in the English, Irish and Welsh equivalents. A number of runners will be out of the handicap due to the presence of Take The Stand, with those set to carry more than their allotted mark including Longshanks, Kerry Lads, Supreme Glory and Smarty. ? PA Sport
