BORDERS trainer Sandy Thomson will attempt to keep the Coral Scottish Grand National trophy north of the border on Saturday when he takes on the big guns from the south with the eight-year-old Seldom Inn.

The horse won a Listed race earlier in the season at Kelso and is likely to be ridden by Grand National winner Derek Fox.

A Scottish win would be fitting on an afternoon that will see Aintree hero One For Arthur parade at noon, and although Sandy Thomson had hoped to run last year’s third Seeyouatmidnight in the £215,000, an injury put paid to that and instead he will pin his hopes on Seldom Inn.

Other horses with a realistic chance include Arpege D’Alene from the Paul Nicholls yard, Warren Greatrex’s Missed Approach and last year’s winner Vicente, also trained by Nicholls.

The £105,000 QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle looks like being a particularly strong race and Nicky Henderson has four interesting entries in this in the shape of Peace And Co, L’Ami Serge, Divin Bere and Loch Derg Spirit.

The opening day of the Festival on Friday is Ladies Day and the feature race is the class 1 Listed Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase, a £50,000 contest run over two miles four-and-a-half furlongs.

This has attracted some tasty entries including David Pipe’s Starchitect, Theinval from the Henderson stable and Dan Skelton’s Oldgrangewood and Two Taffs.

And the main supporting race is the Coral.co.ukMares’ Handicap Hurdle over three miles in which Dumfriesshire trainer Iain Jardine has an interesting runner in the in-form Stoneham.

Friday’s opening race is at 2.10pm with the Saturday action getting underway at 1.35pm. There are still tickets available for Friday and these can be booked online at www.scottishgrandnationalfestival.co.uk/ or by calling 01292-264179.