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Scottish Grand National - Sat April 16th 2011 

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Beshabar Bags Scottish Grand National Glory
16/04/11

1 Beshabar 15/2
2 Merigo 20/1
3 Always Right 15/2
4 Lothian Falcon 33/1
NR: Bellflower Boy (IRE), Fair Along (GER)
28 ran Distances: ¾l, nk, 30l
TIME 8m 2.50s (slow by 0.50s)

Cheltenham Festival runner-up Beshabar went one place better with a terrific performance from the front in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Beshabar
© Grossick Racing Photography

Beshabar

Tim Vaughan's nine-year-old had chased home Chicago Grey in last month's National Hunt Chase but while the latter failed to get involved this time, Beshabar was always jumping well at the head of affairs and had last year's winner Merigo for company.

Always Right came from out of the pack and threatened to challenge, but Beshabar (15-2) was in determined mood and kept up the gallop all the way to the line to score by three-quarters of a length, with the rallying Merigo snatching second back close home.

Vaughan said: "It's like a dream come true. We had our first Grade One winner last week at Aintree (Saint Are) and I had a big hangover then, but after winning the Scottish National, I think I'll have a double one tomorrow!

"People have been saying we've just been training winners over the summer, so I am very grateful to Harry Findlay (part-owner) for sending me this horse that we could go to proper places with. Hopefully we'll get a few more that will be able to run in the big Saturday races now.

"Richard Johnson gave him a fantastic ride. I didn't really give him any instructions. I just told Richard we employ him because he's as good as any jockey around.

"There is no doubt we will aim him at the Aintree Grand National next season and all the plans through the season will be geared towards that."

Johnson added: "He jumped really well and enjoyed himself and I enjoyed myself as well. It's great to win this race for the first time (at the 14th attempt). He's very tough and every time Merigo came back at him, he kept pulling out more and more."

Owner Raymond Anderson Green said of the runner-up: "Of course you're always disappointed when you are beaten, but the horse has gone and run the race of his life.

"He hadn't been running too well this season, but Andrew (Parker, trainer) had him in good form and I thought if he ran to his best, he would go close. I wouldn't rule out Aintree next season, but I'm not sure he is the type of horse for there and I would like to have another crack at this."

 

Position
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Weight
Starting Price
Beaten Distance
1
Beshabar
Tim Vaughan
R Johnson
10st 4lbs
15 - 2
Winner
2
Merigo
A Parker
T J Murphy
10st 0lbs
20 - 1
3/4 length
3
Always Right
J Wade
J Reveley
10st 0lbs
15 - 2
Neck
4
Lothian Falcon
P Maddison
Peter Carberry
10st 0lbs
33 - 1
30 lengths
5
Heez A Steel
G A Charlton
Alistair Findlay
10st 0lbs
66 - 1
3/4 length
6
Neptune Collonges
P F Nicholls
A P McCoy
11st 12lbs
16 - 1
1 3/4 length
7
Gone To Lunch
J Scott
Nick Scholfield
10st 0lbs
14 - 1
4 1/2 lengths
8
Chicago Grey
G Elliott
P Carberry
10st 9lbs
11 - 2
12 lengths
9
Regal Heights
T R George
A Coleman
10st 0lbs
33 - 1
6 lengths
10
No Panic
P Bowen
T J O'Brien
10st 0lbs
50 - 1
17 lengths
11
Neptune Equester
B Ellison
Paul Gallagher
10st 0lbs
14 - 1
8 lengths
12
That's Rhythm
M Todhunter
C I Gillies
10st 0lbs
40 - 1
4 lengths
13
Ouzbeck
Miss E C Lavelle
Jack Doyle
10st 5lbs
16 - 1
16 lengths
Pulled Up
Blazing Bailey
A King
R Thornton
10st 11lbs
20 - 1
Pulled Up
Minella Four Star
D Pipe
Conor O'Farrell
10st 2lbs
16 - 1
Pulled Up
The Minack
P F Nicholls
R Walsh
10st 1lbs
8 - 1
Pulled Up
Be There In Five
N J Henderson
Felix de Giles
10st 0lbs
22 - 1
Unseated Rider
Poker De Sivola
Ferdy Murphy
G Lee
10st 0lbs
11 - 1
Pulled Up
Gansey
Mrs S J Smith
P Buchanan
10st 0lbs
66 - 1
Pulled Up
Roll Along
N A Twiston-Davies
S Twiston-Davies
10st 0lbs
50 - 1
PulledUp
Ballyfitz
N A Twiston-Davies
David England
10st 0lbs
28 - 1
PulledUp
Fredo
Ian Williams
Mr R Mahon
10st 0lbs
40 - 1
PulledUp
Iris De Balme
Miss J S Davis
Charlie Huxley
10st 0lbs
66 - 1
Fell
Cold Mountain
J W Mullins
F Keniry
10st 0lbs
66 - 1
PulledUp
Morgan Be
Mrs K Walton
R McGrath
10st 0lbs
80 - 1
PulledUp
Long Strand
C F Swan
D J Casey
10st 0lbs
66 - 1
PulledUp
Silent Cliche
J Howard Johnson
B Hughes
10st 0lbs
100 - 1
PulledUp
Hot 'n' Holy
D Thompson
T J Phelan
10st 0lbs
200 - 1
NonRunner
Fair Along
P J Hobbs
Non Runner
10st 1lbs
-
NonRunner
Bellflower Boy
Dr R D P Newland
Non Runner
10st 0lbs
-
       

 

Coral SGN Facts

  • The Scottish Grand National was first run as the West of Scotland Grand National at a course near Houston, Renfrewshire from 1858 until 1866
  • The course in 1858 consisted of 32 jumps, mostly stone walls
  • In 1867 after objections from the minister of the Free Kirk of Houston the race moved to Bogside, Irvine and was still known as the West of Scotland Grand National
  • The first winner at Bogside was The Elk, owned by the Duke of Hamilton and ridden by John Page
  • In 1869 Hunstman become the first and only Irish trained winner of the race
  • In 1880 the race title was changed to The Scottish Grand National and was won by Peacock
  • Charlie Cunningham, known as Scotland's greatest jockey, won the race four times in 1881, 1885, 1887 and 1889
  • The winning horse in 1867 won £100, increasing to £440 by 1906, £1030 ion 1950, £5,436 in 1963 and this year's top prize is £102,618
  • The first television coverage of the Scottish National was in 1953 on BBC and it was also shown in 1954 but then wasn't screened again until 1969 on ITV and it has been shown live ever since and moved to Channel 4 in 1986
  • In 1966 the race moved to Ayr when Bogside closed and the first winner was African Patrol trained at Selkirk by Bobby Fairbairn and ridden by Johnny Leech
  • Red Rum won the Scottish Grand National in 1974 just a couple of weeks after landing his second Aintree success
  • Five horses have won the race twice the most recent being Androma in 1984 and 1985
  • Richard Johnson has ridden in the race 13 times but never won, he has finished third on four occasions and fourth twice
  • Merigo became the first Scottish trained horse to win the race since Cockle Strand in 1982

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