Vintage Clouds can make it FOURTH time lucky in Scottish Grand National at Ayr next week, says Jim Delahunt

VINTAGE CLOUDS can make it fourth time lucky in next weekend’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Sue Smith’s grey was a beaten favourite in the great race two years ago when sixth to Takingrisks.

Prior to that, he’d finished third and seventh in our showpiece event of the jumps season.

But VINTAGE CLOUDS was back in top form in first-time cheekpieces when winning the Ultima at last month’s Cheltenham Festival under Galashiels rider Ryan Mania.

Jedburgh-trained Aye Right looks set to head the weights after several outstanding efforts this season.

But Vintage Clouds looked better than ever at Cheltenham and his light campaign after wind surgery can see him go two places better than his third to Joe Farrell in 2018.

LEOPARDSTOWN hosts its 2000 and 1000 Guineas Trials today and I’m taking Jim Bolger to crash what could be Aidan O’Brien’s private party by sending out POETIC FLARE to land the colts’ event at 2.10.

The son of Dawn Approach was ready early last year to win first time out at Naas and a trip to Newmarket for the Dewhurst in October was given credibility with a next-time-out win in a Group 3 over today’s track and trip.

The zero in the middle of his form figures for the Dewhurst is miles better than it looks, as he wasn’t beaten far behind St Mark’s Basilica after being hampered and he hacked up at today’s track seven days later.

O’Brien runs Horoscope, Matchless and Merchants Quay, while Ado McGuinness tests the Classic waters with A Case Of You.

Poetic Flare runs here instead of the Curragh on Saturday and he won’t be 33/1 for the Guineas at Newmarket if he wins this afternoon.

Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien supply eight of the 15 runners in the fillies’ trial at 2.40 and Ryan Moore is more than likely to have settled on the right one by choosing Donnacha’s SHALE for his Coolmore employers.

A 3lb penalty has to be defied but she looked top class last season and I would suggest odds-against is value, given Moore could have ridden the recently impressive Empress Josephine.

KELSO form has been well advertised during the Grand National meeting and the Borders track takes centre stage in Britain today.

Dianne Sayer relies on CALLIOPE instead of the seemingly well-treated Frightened Rabbit in the 2m2f handicap hurdle at 4.10 and Danny McMenamin takes over from Brian Hughes, who’s claimed to ride Prince Khurram.

Keith Dalgleish can take the longer handicap hurdle at 2.31 with SIDI ISMAEL under fit-again Craig Nichol and defending champion Hughes can leave with at least one winner courtesy of WELL EDUCATED in the bumper at 5.11.

John Quinn’s runner had a well-backed Olly Murphy sort behind when runner-up at Newcastle last time and that horse has franked the form since with a win at Exeter.

Hughes’ main title rival Harry Skelton heads to Plumpton with some obvious chances at short prices.

But the conditional jockeys’ race at 4.55 can supply the best bet there in four-time course-winning veteran FINNEGAN’S GARDEN under Page Fuller.

DELAHUNT'S DAILY TIP

GOODNIGHT CHARLIE to win 4.0 Warwick

Bridget Andrews’ mount did everything but win at Chepstow last time out and connections aren’t wasting time chasing compensation less than three weeks later.

He’s been raised 3lbs for that last effort but it looks manageable for this previous course-and-distance winner, who ran well enough on his previous start here when chasing home Volcano.