Joe Farrell wins Scottish Grand National in a dramatic climax at Ayr

Similar to last Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree, it was a desperately close finish and the outcome was confirmed in a photo finish as Joe Farrell, ridden by Adam Wedge, held off the challenge of Ballyoptic and Tom Bellamy to win by a short head.

The winner led approaching the last fence in the four-mile test but then made a slight error which allowed Ballyoptic to move up and challenge, but Wedge ensured Joe Farrell just managed to hold on.

Third went to Vintage Clouds ridden by Danny Cook, while Noel Fehily and Doing Fine were fourth. Vincente, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, had been bidding to win the race for a third time in succession but was not helped by a mistake four fences from home and could only make fifth.

The race favourite Fagan, trained by Gordon Elliott, who had been hoping to complete a Grand National treble having won last weekend’s Aintree showpiece and the Irish equivalent earlier this month, never really featured.

Victory for Joe Farrell was a first winner in Scotland for Welsh trainer Curtis who also part-owns the horse and has otherwise had a miserable season with only her ninth winner from 87 runners. However this will more than make up for that as it gives her and jockey Wedge their biggest successes to date.

Speaking afterwards, said the Pembrokeshire-based trainer said, “We’ve had a difficult season. I thought it was a big ask. He’s still a novice for a big race like that, but I knew he’d stay all day.

“He wanted a bit better ground, so that was brilliant. He idled at the end in front. If he’d have got beaten on the line, I’d have been gutted.
“Watching it, I thought he had held on – I hoped he had.

“I own a quarter of him. I bought him quite cheaply out of John Ferguson’s sale. He had broken down on both his front legs. I took a chance with him and thankfully he’s won a big race. It’s all paid off.”