Hi °C | Lo °C Jimmy Moffatt is "quietly confident" Chief Dan George can deliver the goods in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr today.
The only Irish runner is Sea Diva, a 33-1 shot trained by Dessie Hughes and who was fourth in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxter behind Russian Trigger.
Sea Diva’s last win was back in December ‘07 when winning a handicap chase over 3mile five furlong at Fairyhouse.
It was in December that Moffatt earmarked the marathon handicap chase for Chief Dan George and the nine-year-old will line-up with just five races over fences under his belt.
A Grade One winner over hurdles at Aintree two years ago, Chief Dan George has improved with each run over fences and after being placed on the first three occasions has won his last two outings at Catterick and Kelso.
"He has trained well, it's gone without a blip this last month or so and we're looking forward to today," said Moffatt.
"He's battle hardened. He's only had five runs over fences but he has jumped well every time and the last time he ran he was pretty impressive. We just keep our fingers crossed and hope everything goes well.
"He's a spring horse and this year he has come good again, but with all the talk in the world you have still to race over four miles.
"We've had this race in mind for him since before Christmas. We made entries at Cheltenham and the rest but we thought the Scottish National was the way we were going to go and miss Aintree out.
"We have purposely done it like this and just hope it goes OK. We are quietly confident."
While several trainers have been praying for testing conditions, Moffatt is happy with the work of the Ayr ground staff.
"I'm happy with the ground as long as it's good and maybe the quicker side of good, that would be absolutely fine.
"He wants better ground it helps him jump out of the fences. He springs off it."
However, Andrew Parker is keeping his fingers crossed conditions are not too quick for his stable star Merigo, winner of the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February.
"He's very well but it all depends on what we think of the ground when we're up there today and tomorrow," said Parker.
"We don't want to take a chance with him. I don't think there is any rain forecast and we have got a drying wind at the moment so we will have to see.”
