Neptune Collonges tops National weights

Neptune Collonges and Tony McCoy will attempt to defy top weight in Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Paul Nicholls’ 10-year-old will concede over a stone all round following the defection of Tidal Bay.

Nicholls also runs The Minack (10st 1lb), the mount of Ruby Walsh.

Alan King’s Blazing Bailey is next in the weights behind Neptune Collonges, with Cheltenham Festival winner Chicago Grey on 10st 9lb.

Gordon Elliott’s charge is one of only two Irish raiders, with Charlie Swan’s Long Strand set to compete from way out of the handicap

Tim Vaughan’s Beshabar, second to Chicago Grey at Cheltenham, Midlands National winner Minella Four Star and Fair Along are the only other runners in the handicap proper.

Martin Todhunter’s That’s Rhythm is the sole representative from a handful of possibles that ran in the Grand National at Aintree last week. He fell at the first fence.

John Wade’s Always Right is an interesting contender. The former point-to-pointer is progressing at a rate of knots and won the Grimthorpe Chase on his last start.

Last year’s winner Merigo, 2008 victor Iris De Balme and Jerry Scott’s Gone To Lunch, second in 2009, are among the others to take the plunge.