Durack to replace Carberry on Philson Run

CONNECTIONS of Philson Run are looking to Seamus Durack to produce their charge as late as possible in the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr tomorrow.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old is unbeaten in his three completed starts and will have a new jockey aboard after his intended pilot Paul Carberry was ruled out through injury.

Philson Run was one of 23 declared for the four-mile-one-furlong marathon yesterday, with Take The Stand set to carry top-weight of 11st 12lb.

The Peter Bowen-trained Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, who unseated Leighton Aspell at the Chair in the Grand National last weekend, will be ridden for the first time by Richard Johnson.

Chives is next in the weights on 10st 11lb, followed by Martin Pipe’s Comply Or Die and 2003 runner-up Stormez.

The champion trainer is also represented by Iris Bleu and Control Man, with his title rival Paul Nicholls saddling Colourful Life and Cornish Rebel.

The latter will be the mount of Ruby Walsh as he seeks a ‘grand slam’ of Nationals following his victories in the English, Irish and Welsh equivalents.

A number of runners will be out of the handicap due to the presence of Take The Stand, with those set to carry more than their allotted mark including Longshanks, Kerry Lads and Supreme Glory.

Mark Pitman’s old campaigner Smarty has been forced to miss the race through lameness. Pitman’s secretary reported that no decision had been made as to whether the 12-year-old would now be retired.

Cashmans betting: 9/2 Cornish Rebel, 8/1 Philson Run, 8/1 Comply Or Die, 11/1 Iris Bleu, 11/1 Longshanks, 12/1 Colourful Life, 14/1 Take The Stand, 14/1 The Bajan Bandit, 16/1 Another Rum.