Racing: Walsh out to complete National set
Ruby Walsh now only needs the Welsh version to complete a set of Grand National victories after taking the Gala Casinos Daily Record-sponsored Scottish marathon on Saturday.
His victory on spare ride Take Control was the highlight of an incredible 5,716-1 four-timer at Ayr.
Reflecting on the race, Walsh who won the Grand National on Papillon and Irish Grand National on Commanche Court in 2000 said: ‘‘I was very lucky.
‘‘I was lucky to get on the horse. I was supposed to ride Montifault and when he came out I got on Take Control.
‘‘And I was lucky after two out as it was very tight when we went round the last and I could just as easily have ended up on the hurdles course and been disqualified it got very tight and I had to swerve right.
‘‘I’ve won the Grand National and the Irish so all I need now is the Welsh and I am sorted!’’
Walsh, whose four-timer was completed with wins on Kadarann, Saint Par and Maybe The Business, revealed that stable jockey Tony McCoy had no ill feelings about missing out on a big winner by partnering Cyfor Malta.
‘‘He came out and said well done,’’ the jockey said. ‘‘He is a great sportsman as everybody knows.’’
The result was a major boost for champion trainer Martin Pipe, who has been at a low ebb since the death of his father David and his best horse Valiramix last month.
Walsh only came in for the ride on 20-1 chance Take Control - unplaced as a well-backed 4-1 favourite for the race last year - when his intended partner Montifault was found to be unfit on the eve of the race and the Irish rider was snapped up by Pipe at declaration time.
Paul Nicholls was left ruing a narrow defeat of runner-up Shotgun Willy, who put a modest previous effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup well behind him.
‘‘He has run a hell of a race,’’ the trainer said. ‘‘I always said he wanted a trip and this was a much better job for him.’’
But Nicholls also enjoyed a highly-successful afternoon with the Ditcheat trainer recording a four-timer as well at odds of 1,224-1.
Barry Geraghty was on Nicholls’ promising chaser Valley Henry when the gelding put mid-season jumping problems firmly behind him by landing the £26,000 Ashleybank Investments Future Champion Novices’ Chase.
On the Flat front, Queen’s Logic cemented her position as 7-4 favourite with William Hill for next month’s Sagitta 1000 Guineas after cruising to victory in the Dubai Duty Free (Fred Darling) Stakes at Newbury.
The Mick Channon-trained daughter of Grand Lodge maintained her unbeaten record in style under Steve Drowne, scoring by an easy length and three-quarters from Richard Hannon’s Roundtree, who stayed on late to take second place from Shiny.
Punters who backed Queen’s Logic will hardly have got rich at 1-3 but at least their money was never in doubt as the winner cruised into the lead with a furlong to run and comfortably quickened clear.
Said Channon: ‘‘It’s all about two weeks’ time now. I thought it was better to take the freshness out of her rather than have her too fresh for Newmarket and I’m delighted with the way that she did it.’’
Hannon may have been denied with Roundtree but he quickly went one better when Redback capitalised upon a fitness advantage to win the Lane’s End Greenham Stakes.
Darryll Holland’s mount never saw a rival as he streaked clear from two furlongs out to take the Group Three race at 5-1, equalling the course record in the process.
Hannon said: ‘‘He blew up first time out at Kempton but he wouldn’t blow a candle out today.’’
William Hill and Coral are best-priced about his chances in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, both offering 33-1, but Hannon indicated that the French version might be a more likely target.
Channon also took the honours at Thirsk when Aramram won the £23,000 Stanley Racing Classic Trial in gutsy fashion at the North Yorkshire track.
