racing_news/

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

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