Harry Cobden smuggled Captain Cody into the Coral Scottish Grand National to pinch its £112,540 first prize from Klarc Kent. While the ice cool ride was agony for backers of the runner-up, it was ecstasy for all-conquering Willie Mullins who saddled both.
The top result – a week after a 1-2-3 in the English version – puts him within touching distance of a second British trainers’ title.
Mullins had feared his chance was fading when Dan Skelton extended his lead to nearly £178,000 before the National runners reached the four-mile start, but it took just eight minutes for the tables to be well and truly turned.
“That has put us back in the game,” said Mullins, 68, behind his big rival by around £25,000 with two weeks to go until Sandown’s grand finale on April 26.
“We just didn’t have the luck today but it all came in the right race. My instructions to Harry were to put on his best female voice as this horse usually only goes for Jody (Townend)!”
Days after his 40th birthday, Skelton’s double challenge was halved at the first fence when Sail Away could not avoid faller Surrey Quest. And it was over at number seven where Snipe exited and Olympic Man was front rank with Klarc Kent, accompanied by two other Mullins stablemates.
Meanwhile Cobden – a reigning champion of the jumping game like the Irish handler – was biding his time in rear and plotting a path to the front.
Kept widest of all, it soon became clear to observers that he had found the key to Captain Cody, who showed off an impressive gear change to pass Klarc Kent on the run-in.
“He jumped beautifully and I got there very easily turning in,” said Cobden, free to ride for Mullins as his boss Paul Nicholls was unrepresented in the 23-runner contest. We got into a lovely rhythm, popped the last and away he went.”
In a rapidly-changing renewal, which saw fellow Mullins hope Spanish Harlem carried out by Walking On Air, only eight horses completed the course.
There was a tragic postscript as it was confirmed last year’s winner Macdermott and The Kniphand both sustained fatal injuries.
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