John Smith’s Grand National heroes Auroras Encore and Ryan Mania are set to be reunited at Ayr this weekend after both were given the green light for Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National.

EARLIER this week’s boxing’s ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali, celebrated his 70th birthday and 50 years ago yesterday, National Hunt racing’s equivalent, the peerless steeplechaser Arkle, gained his first victory in a modest novice hurdle at Navan.

BIG FELLA THANKS will be out to do justice to his greyhound namesake when Harry Findlay’s eight- year-old lines up as the favourite in today’s Grand National.

Charlie Swan has high hopes for his first runner in the John Smith’s Grand National when Offshore Account takes his chance at Aintree tomorrow.