Coral Scottish Grand National
Ayr 16:05
Grade 3 Handicap Chase,
£215,000 added, 5yo plus,
3m 7f 176y, Class 1   
Saturday 21st April 2018

QuinnBet

1 Joe Farrell 33/1
2 Ballyoptic 9/1
3 Vintage Clouds 12/1
4 Doing Fine 12/1
29 ran NR: Alvarado, Mysteree Distances: nse, 4l, 7l
Time: 8m 0.50s (fast by 1.50s)

Joe Farrell wins for Adam Wedge and Rebecca Curtis

Joe Farrell
© Grossick Photography
Joe Farrell

Sent off a 33-1 chance in the hands of Adam Wedge, the Rebecca Curtis-trained winner dug deep on the run to the line, with just a nose separating the two runners after four miles of racing.

Leading fancy Vintage Clouds was to the fore throughout and he assumed control of matters with five to jump, but Wedge was tracking his move aboard Joe Farrell and eased into second on jumping the next fence.

With momentum in his favour, Wedge committed for home with three to jump and as Vintage Clouds began to toil, Ballyoptic hit top stride for Tom Bellamy.

Switched for his challenge after the last, Ballyoptic tried his best to reel in the winner but Joe Farrell, who was getting a stone from the runner-up, clung on at the line.

Vintage Clouds claimed third, with Doing Fine fourth, but 7-1 favourite Fagan was never sighted for Gordon Elliott.

Wedge told ITV Racing: "He stuck his head out like an absolute lion for me after the last. 

"I could feel Tom Bellamy (on Ballyoptic) getting to me all the way, but he's tried his heart out. 

"The mistake at the last fence didn't stop him. I was going to take a pull, but he's taken it on. Fair play to him, he knew better than me." 

Curtis said: "We've had a difficult season. I thought it was a big ask. He's still a novice for a big race like that, but I knew he'd stay all day. 

"He wanted a bit better ground, so that was brilliant. 

"It's my first time in Scotland. 

"He idled at the end in front. If he'd have got beaten on the line, I'd have been gutted. Watching it, I thought he had held on - I hoped he had. 

"I own a quarter of him. I bought him quite cheaply out of John Ferguson's sale. He had broken down on both his front legs. I took a chance with him and thankfully he's won a big race. It's all paid off."

QuinnBet

Coral Scottish Grand National
£215,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 7f 176y, Class 1
29 ran
Going: Good

Pos D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st Joe Farrell (IRE) 33/1 Adam Wedge
10-6
Miss R Curtis 9
2nd nse Ballyoptic (IRE) 9/1 Thomas Bellamy
11-6
N A Twiston-Davies 8
3rd 4 Vintage Clouds (IRE) 12/1 Danny Cook
10-12
Mrs S J Smith 8
4th 7 Doing Fine (IRE) 12/1 N D Fehily
10-6
N P Mulholland 10
5th Vicente (FR) 8/1 Sam Twiston-Davies
11-7
P F Nicholls 9
6th nse Label Des Obeaux (FR) 20/1 Wayne Hutchinson
11-4
A King 7
7th 3 Pearl Swan (FR) 66/1 James Bowen (3)
10-5
P Bowen 10
8th Sizing Codelco (IRE) 28/1 Paul O'Brien (5)
11-7
C L Tizzard 9
9th 10 Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 50/1 Harry Bannister
10-0
Jamie Snowden 8
10th 7 Regal Flow 25/1 Sean Houlihan (5)
11-2
R H Buckler 11
11th Alzammaar (USA) 50/1 Callum Bewley (3)
10-1
Sam England 7
12th 1 Silsol (GER) 14/1 Harry Cobden
10-13
P F Nicholls 9
13th 20 Work Du Breteau (FR) 100/1 Bridget Andrews (3)
10-6
D Skelton 8
PU Gold Present (IRE) 20/1 Nico de Boinville
11-12
N J Henderson 8
PU Beware The Bear (IRE) 14/1 J McGrath
11-6
N J Henderson 8
PU Fagan 7/1f D N Russell
11-4
G Elliott 8
PU Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 10/1 R M Power
11-2
C L Tizzard 10
PU West Approach 33/1 T Scudamore
11-1
C L Tizzard 8
PU Get On The Yager 28/1 Harry Skelton
10-11
D Skelton 8
PU Henri Parry Morgan 18/1 Sean Bowen
10-10
P Bowen 10
PU Benbens (IRE) 40/1 Aidan Coleman
10-9
N A Twiston-Davies 13
PU Looking Well (IRE) 16/1 Ryan Day (3)
10-8
N G Richards 9
PU Cogry 25/1 Jamie Bargary
10-8
N A Twiston-Davies 9
PU Straidnahanna (IRE) 66/1 Henry Brooke
10-7
Mrs S J Smith 9
PU Glencairn View (IRE) 11/1 D E Mullins
10-4
A Mullins 8
PU Boa Island (IRE) 100/1 C O'Farrell
10-1
James Moffatt 8
PU Racing Europe (IRE) 100/1 D R Fox
10-0
B Ellison 9
F Indy Five (IRE) 25/1 B Hughes
10-7
David Dennis 8
UR The Young Master 12/1 Mr S Waley-Cohen (3)
10-3
N P Mulholland 9
NR Mysteree (IRE) R T Dunne
10-7
M Scudamore 10
NR Alvarado (IRE) Non Runner
10-1
F O'Brien 13

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