Boy team monitoring weather

Dr Richard Newland is hoping for a dry spell ahead of the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday week.

The Worcester-based handler would like Burntoakboy to take his chance in the extended four-mile test, but only if the ground is suitable.

The 10-year-old also holds an entry in Sandown’s Bet365 Gold Cup, in which a total of 41 horses stayed in at the initial forfeit stage.

“We’ll have to see if he gets in one of these races,” said Newland.

“We are just biding our time with him and going for one of the two.

“I wouldn’t want it too soft up at Ayr but the plan at the moment would be to go for the Scottish National. If it dried out and he got in the weights and got a run, we’d probably take our chance.

“If that didn’t happen, we’d definitely have a look at the Sandown race.”

Burntoakboy is widely available at 16-1 for the Scottish National and 14s for the Sandown feature.