I ALWAYS think that this weekend is the switchover in codes, the flat steps up another notch while the jumping starts to slow down after today's Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

In Scotland's flagship race there would be no more popular winner than Lie Forrit, trained by Lucinda Russell, a horse that will relish the trip.

He was trained by Willie Amos in the 2008-09 season when he was ridden by Campbell Gillies, a promising jockey who lost his life nearly three years ago.

Lie Forrit is owned by Gillies' grandfather John McNeill, his uncle Crawford McNeill and his mother, Lesley Gillies.

The 11-year-old was moved to Russell - for whom Gillies won a Grade One at the Cheltenham Festival on Brindisi Breeze - 18 months ago and has recaptured his best, as he showed when winning the Grand National Trial at Haydock, his third success this season.

He was pulled up in this race 12 months ago, but his trainer feels he is in better shape now.

"He's been in fantastic form all season and he's gone up in the handicap because he's run so well each time," said Russell. “The race was a bit of an afterthought a year ago, but this time we've sort of had this as a target for quite a while.

"The ground and the track should be fine for him, he's on as high a mark as he's ever been over fences but maybe the extra distance might just bring out a bit more improvement.

"The thing about this horse is he's always had quite a big following, so if he were to win it, I think it would mean a lot to a lot of people in Scotland, not just us."

At Newbury,champion trainer Richard Hannon is excited to see his star filly Tiggy Wiggy back in action in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.

Tiggy Wiggy proved herself to be the best of her sex as she recorded six victories and two seconds from her eight starts as a juvenile, culminating with a Group One success in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in the autumn.

Tiggy Wiggy now has to put her credentials for the Qipco 1000 Guineas under scrutiny when she lines up for the Group Three contest, registered as the Fred Darling, over seven furlongs

"She's in great form and she's relaxing now. We've been very careful to get her relaxed," Hannon said yesterday morning.

"She has been very well behaved and has been moving fantastic. She hasn't grown massive amounts, but she's big enough. She wasn't very big last year and that didn't stop her, so I'm very hopeful.

"I hope they go a gallop and give her a bit of a lead. She'll need that to get her relaxed. She's been to Newbury before. She ran very well there. We've got everything prepared to try to make sure she is well behaved."

Closer to home, there is an eight-race card at Thirsk as they open their gates for the first time this season.

My nap of the day runs in the 4.10pm in the shape of Notarised. A horse trained by Mark Johnston in Middleham, he had an eye-catching run at Lingfield last Saturday and he looks the type his trainer will excel with.