Scotland’s most lucrative race day of the year was overshadowed by the tragic deaths of two horses in its main event, the Coral Scottish Grand National. The £200,000 race, was won by Willie Mullins’ 9/1 shot Captain Cody.
The race was a tumultuous affair, with two runners falling at the first fence and only eight runners finishing from twenty-three starters. Last year’s champion, Macdermott, a 16/1 horse, tragically died after suffering a heart attack as he made his way round the second circuit.
The Mullins runner, ridden by Danny Mullins, who had triumphed on him the previous year, was travelling comfortably in midfield when he suddenly pulled up just past the stands.He received immediate attention from veterinary staff but could not be saved.
The Kniphand, a 9/1 shot trained by Nigel Tiwston-Davies, also suffered a fatal fall when coming down two fences from home.
Mullins once again claimed both first and second prizes – a week after achieving the same feat in the Grand National at Aintree – as Captain Cody won at 9/1, beating Klarc Kent, 14/1, in the final fifty yards.
Two horses – Surrey Quest and Sail Away – fell at the very first fence. The open ditch in the home straight was also omitted on the final circuit after jockeys Jonjo O’Neill jr and Harry Atkins required treatment after their mounts Hasthing and Snipe both came down.
In a separate incident, the well-fancied Spanish Harlem was carried off the course by another runner, Walking On Air, who was being pulled up.
Victorious jockey Harry Cobden remarked after his win: “I didn’t want to get there too soon and I knew I was going to beat Johnny [Burke, rider of Klarc Kent]. Even to the last, there was a long one there, but I thought: You are not going for the photo, just get him into the bottom, get him over it and away he went. He had been saving the whole way.”
1st. Captain Cody 9/1.
2nd. Klarc Kent 14/1.
3rd. Our Power 33/1.
4th. Grozni 22/1.
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