The Scottish Grand National runs this afternoon at Ayr, Scotland's grade-one race course, and with £165,000 in prize money on offer it promises the winner their best-ever payday. Last year, there was much wailing when the 7/1 joint favourite, Ladalko, was beaten by a whisker by the 33/1 outsider Run For Paddy. Punters will be hoping for less of an upset a few minutes after the off today.
While squeezing a few quid out of the gentlemen with the bottomless satchels can be a fun, if often fruitless, way to spend an afternoon, placing a bet isn't the only way to enjoy Ayr Racecourse.
Plenty of fashion-conscious glamsters will use the day as an excuse to flaunt their glad rags and extravagant titfers, while the ladies of the area have been known to make an effort as well. What with a samba band, dancing and plenty of options for feeding and watering the troops - you should have all the ingredients for a lively day out.
With spring well under way, the nesting season will be hitting its peak soon. Humans looking to spruce up their own nests may want to fly over to the SECC for the Ideal Home and Garden Show this weekend.
Eight designer gardens, a farmers' market and hands-on workshops covering everything from basket-weaving to wine tasting are among the attractions.
Interior designers and gardening buffs, such as John Amabile, George Bond and Lynn Harris, will be on hand to dispense tips ranging from the girlie - how to use floral fabrics - to rather more manly pursuits, such as how to exterminate gardens pests.
If even the thought of nuking greenfly seems a little too chintzy, more robust pleasures are available at the first Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival, which takes place in the town's Victoria Halls today.
Nine breweries from around Scotland will be showing what their brewers can do at this all-day event organised by the Round Table.
All the beers are £1 for a half, with profits going to local good causes.
Live bands crank up from mid-afternoon with the highlights including a set from The Led Zeppelin Story, a tribute to the hairy 1970s' rockers who, in their heyday, were so badly behaved that the douce burghers of Helensburgh would have run them out of town for fear of their daughters' good reputations.
Unlike Led Zep, the Orkney Jazz Festival is unlikely to be the subject of a warts 'n' all biographical exposé, but it has been known to get a bit zesty when the mainly traditional bands in the line-up hit their swing.
Most of the action takes place at the Stromness Hotel, but sinners can repent in jazz style at the Festival Service of Praise held in St Magnus Cathedral, where Bill Salmond's Louisiana Ragtime Band will be demonstrating the verve with which the saints are expected to go marching in.
• For details of events visit ; ; ; for the Orkney Jazz Festival, tel: 01856 850298.
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