ROBERTO GOLDBACK showed signs of a return to form at the Cheltenham Festival and he can prove the star turn in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

The presence of Tidal Bay means more than half the field are running from out of the handicap which gives the race an unusually fiendish edge, with claims to be made for a handful of contenders.

However, Roberto Goldback races from just within the handicap and with only 10st 2lb on his back, he will think he is running free after shouldering some sturdy weights throughout the season.

Rated 162 at one point in the 2013-13 campaign, Roberto Goldback is now off a 20lb lower mark after failing to strike gold in well over a year now.

The 12-year-old disappointed in a couple of starts before Christmas but shaped a little better when sixth at Doncaster in January, although he never looked likely to win that day.

The handicapper duly dropped him 6lb following that effort and trainer Nicky Henderson felt it was worth a shot at the Kim Muir with him.

Despite having to carry top weight, he performed with credit to finish third behind Spring Heeled, although a little way adrift of the front pair.

Roberto Goldback has gone down another 2lb since then and with better ground a definite factor in his favour, he could go well at a nice price.

Stablemate My Tent Or Yours will certainly not be available at generous odds but is still hard to oppose in the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Henderson's charge has to give lumps of lead away to all his rivals but following his narrow Champion Hurdle second, he is a thoroughly worthy top weight.

His free-going nature did not lend itself particularly well to Cheltenham as he was found out up the hill, but this is an excellent chance of redemption.