Coral Scottish Grand National
Ayr 15:35
Grade 3 Handicap Chase,
£150,000 added, 5yo plus,
3m 7f 176y, Class 1   
Sunday 18th April 2021

QuinnBet

1 Mighty Thunder 8/1
2 Dingo Dollar 7/1F
3 Mister Fogpatches 8/1
4 The Ferry Master 20/1
5 Cool Mix 28/1
22 ran NR: Vintage Clouds Distances: ¾l, 3½l, 3¼l
Time: 8m 21.70s (slow by 11.70s)

The Scottish trained Mighty Thunder won the Scottish Grand National at Ayr under Tom Scudamore, collaring Dingo Dollar close home. 

Trained in Kinross by Russell and her partner Peter Scudamore, Mighty Thunder was an 8-1 chance for his latest National assignment after winning the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh and finishing second in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on his last two starts.

Rounding the home turn, it looked like Sandy Thomson could saddle the first two home, with 7-1 favourite Dingo Dollar and his stablemate The Ferry Master clear at the head of affairs.

However, Mighty Thunder responded to jockey Tom Scudamore’s urgings to close the gap and reeled in Dingo Dollar on the run-in to land a popular success by three-quarters of a length.

Irish raider Mister Fogpatches beat The Ferry Master to third place.

Trainers Quotes

Mighty Thunder is the first home-trained winner of Scotland’s most famous jumps race since Merigo in 2012.

Russell said: “I’m delighted for the horse and his owners. It’s mixed emotions because it’s sad for Blair Campbell missing the ride due to injury, as he has kind of produced the horse, but these things happen and it’s fantastic Tom could ride and keep it in the family.

“It’s been a tough time through Covid for the owners as they provide alcohol to pubs and clubs and things, but this will certainly brighten up their day.

“This is the horse’s first season over fences. He’s such a laid-back horse during a race, you can come with a late run at the end – he’s just made for these long-distance races really.”

The victory comes just nine days after Ahoy Senor claimed Grade One glory at Aintree for the team.

Russell has also won the Grand National on Merseyside with One For Arthur in 2017, while Brindisi Breeze was a Cheltenham Festival winner for the yard a few years ago.

Asked where winning the Scottish National ranks in her achievements, Russell added: “It would have to be second to the Grand National, but it’s a pretty good second place.

“I’m very proud of the way all the Scottish horses ran in it. They’re putting northern horses back on the map and that’s what we wanted.”

The trainer hopes Magic Thunder could be a realistic contender for the Randox Grand National at Aintree in 12 months’ time.

She said: “We’ll take it a step at a time, but I think we’ll probably go for the Becher Chase (in December) and see if he takes to the fences at Aintree.

“If he does then great, and if he doesn’t, we’ll aim at the Scottish National again.”

There was a sad postscript to the four-mile contest after it was confirmed the Sandy Forster-trained Claud And Goldie had collapsed and died in the pulling-up area after passing the post in ninth place.

Boylesports

Coral Scottish Grand National
£150,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 7f 176y, Class 1
22 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Mighty Thunder 8 11-1 Lucinda Russell Tom Scudamore 8/1
2 ¾ Dingo Dollar 9 11-2 2 Sandy Thomson Ryna Mania 7/1F
3 3½ Mister Fogpatches 7 10-0 P A Fahy Danny Mullins 8/1
4 3¼ The Ferry Master 8 10-4 Sandy Thomson Sean Quinlan 20/1
5 ¾ Cool Mix 9 10-2 Iain Jardine Conor O'Farrell 28/1
6 ½ Chidswell 12 10-0 Nicky Richards Danny McMenamin 40/1
7 1¾ Lake View Lad 11 11-12 N W Alexander Theo Gillard 50/1
8 1¼ Coup De Pinceau 9 10-8 Nick Mitchell Angus Cheleda 12/1
9 1¼ Claud And Goldie 12 10-8 Sandy Forster Richie McLernon 50/1
10 1½ Aye Right 8 11-11 Harriet Graham Callum Bewley 8/1
11 nk Big River 11 10-10 Lucinda Russell Derek Fox 28/1
12 27 Chef D'Oeuvre 10 10-0 Sam England Jonathan England 14/1
PU Notachance 7 11-3 Alan King Tom Cannon
PU Soldier Of Love 8 11-1 Paul Nicholls Sean Bowen
PU The Dutchman 11 11-0 Tristan Davidson Harry Reed
PU Some Chaos 10 10-13 Michael Scudamore Ben Poste
PU The Hollow Ginge 8 10-11 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
PU Chapel Stile 9 10-8 Nicky Richards Ryan Day
PU Enqarde 7 10-3 Dr Richard Newland Charlie Hammond
PU Dino Boy 8 10-0 Iain Jardine Craig Nichol
PU Oldgrangewood 10 11-0 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
UR Sam's Adventure 9 11-4 Brian Ellison Henry Brooke
NR 3 Vintage Clouds 11 11-7 Sue Smith NON RUNNER