Racing: Possible Sandown run for Control

Take Control could make a quick reappearance at Sandown on Saturday after getting up late to land the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Martin Pipe’s big-race winner is still entered in the Attheraces Gold Cup (formerly the Whitbread) and connections could yet take their chance in the final big race of the jumps season.

Pipe said: ‘‘We’ll see how Take Control is, but he’s in the Whitbread and if he was OK then it’s possible he could run. We just have to see how he is.’’

Pipe was far from surprised by Take Control’s victory, which means that his yard has collected more than £2.5m (€4m) in prize-money this season.

He added: ‘‘He ran a great race at Ayr under Ruby Walsh it was very hard for him with the last fence being omitted, but Ruby judged it to perfection.

‘‘Remember this horse was 4-1 favourite for the race 12 months ago, so he had to have a chance of a similar mark. The first three in the Scottish National were trained in the West Country, which must say something.

‘‘As well as Take Control, we’ve still got Blowing Wind, Majed, You’re Agoodun, Royal Predia, Bounce Back, Dark Stranger and Iris Bleu in at Sandown so we’ll have to make up our minds what runs later in the week.’’