Scottish National a ‘dream’ aim for Whistle Stop Tour

Connections are determined to enjoy the journey with Whistle Stop Tour, with Lucinda Russell’s progressive staying chaser igniting Scottish Grand National dreams for his team.

Owned by Kenny Alexander and his friends Paddy Bryceland and Sean Tracey, Ayr’s spring feature would be a “dream” end to the campaign if the seven-year-old remains on his current trajectory.

He has won four of his nine career starts and is now rated 137 after supplementing a clear-cut win at Kelso with an Ayr victory early in the new year.

He could now try his hand in deeper waters, with some of the season’s remaining staying contests likely to come onto the radar.

“He’s a nice, fun horse for Kenny and a couple of his mates, and they will have a good bit of fun with him as he goes up through the grades,” said Alexander’s racing manager Peter Molony.

“Judging by the three lads involved, they are all Scots, so I think the Scottish Grand National will be the dream.

“He’s up to 137 now and we’ll have to have a chat with Lucinda and Scu (Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner and assistant) and see where we head next, but the boys like their big days out and he’ll be aiming for some of the better days I would imagine.”