OUTSIDER JOE’S GRAND VICTORY Shock as 33-1 shot lands Scottish National

STARTS WITH TIP-TOP RACING

JOE FARRELL held off the late challenge of Ballyoptic to win the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Sent off a 33-1 chance in the hands of Adam Wedge, the Rebecca Curtis-trained winner dug deep on the run to the line with just a nose separating the two after four miles of racing.

Leading fancy Vintage Clouds was to the fore throughout and he assumed control of matters with five to jump but Wedge was tracking him and eased into second on jumping the next fence.

With momentum in his favour, Wedge committed for home with three to jump and as Vintage Clouds began to toil, Ballyoptic hit top stride for Tom Bellamy.

Switched for his challenge after the last, Ballyoptic tried his best to reel in the winner but Joe Farrell, who was getting a stone from the runner-up, clung on.

Vintage Clouds claimed third with Doing Fine fourth while 7-1 favourite Fagan was never sighted for Gordon Elliott.

Wedge said: “He stuck his head out like an absolute lion for me after the last.

“I could feel Tom Bellamy getting close to me all the way but he’s tried his heart out. The mistake at the last fence didn’t stop him.

“I was going to take a pull but he’s taken it on.

“Fair play to him, he knew better than me.”

Curtis 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 on my first time in Scotland.

“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.”

NO ORDINARY JOE: Joe Farrell heads for victory in the Scottish Grand National