Mighty Thunder powers to home win for Russell in the Scottish National
The Grand National might ultimately have been disappointing for Tom Scudamore when he pulled up the favourite Cloth Cap three fences out but, eight days on, it was a different story in the Coral Scottish Grand National which he won on Mighty Thunder for trainer Lucinda Russell, the partner of his father, Peter.
Scudamore, 38, came in for the ride because the stamina-laden winner’s regular partner Blair Campbell was injured, and Mighty Thunder needed nearly every yard of the four miles to cut down the 7-1 favourite Dingo Dollar, like Mighty Thunder trained in Scotland, to win by threequarters of a length. The sole Irish runner, Mister Fogpatches, was third, while The Ferry Master, like the runner-up trained by Sandy Thomson, was back in fourth.
Scudamore said: “He didn’t have the best of starts and from there it was hard work but he knew where the winning line was. They [Russell and his father] have had a great couple of weeks [also winning a Grade One hurdle at Aintree with Ahoy Senor].
“You’ve got to feel sorry for Blair Campbell – he’d have ridden him if he hadn’t been hurt but he’s got a nice horse to look forward to in all those staying chases.”
Russell, who won the Aintree version with One For Arthur in 2017, said: “That was amazing. I know I’ve won the Grand National but I’ve always wanted to win the Scottish National and this is a dream come true again. He just loves four miles.
He doesn’t take much out of himself early in a race but he really finishes well. We’ll probably aim him for the Becher Chase [at Aintree] with a run somewhere first and see how he takes to the fences. I hope he will.”
At Newbury, the Guineas trials were informative rather than explosive. Richard Hannon won the Greenham Stakes with Chindit, the 7-4 favourite, who needed nearly
every yard of the seven furlongs to overhaul Mehmento by a neck with The Lir Jet staying on in third a further neck away.
“It was workmanlike but I’d prefer that,” Hannon said. “I was pleased to see him getting to the end of the race looking like he needed a mile. At home he had been showing so much speed I thought he might be a six-furlong horse, but he started relaxing a month ago. He’ll have a good chance in the Guineas. When he went to Newmarket last season for the Dewhurst, it was heavy and he’s a top-of-the-ground horse.”
It was a good day for Hannon, who also won the opening mile maiden, with Snow Lantern, and the Spring Cup, with Nugget.
Snow Lantern, by Frankel out of Guineas winner Sky Lantern, is bred in the purple and looks to have a bright future. Hannon would like to go to the Guineas with her, although her owner-breeder, Ben Keswick, is keen to get some black type on the board but not throw her in the deep end – that is the gist of the discussion which will be had between trainer and owner this week.
“I haven’t enjoyed watching a race like that for a long time,” said Hannon after she had beaten the favourite Derab a smooth length and three-quarters, and received a quote of 8-1 for the Newmarket Classic on Sunday week.
Andrew Balding won the Fred Darling with 9-4 favourite Alcohol Free, who is 10-1 for the 1,000 Guineas after beating Martyn Meade’s Statement, the filly I would take out of the race, a short head.
“She was very slow coming in her coat and we haven’t done huge amounts with her,” Balding said. “I’m thrilled she’s shown she’s trained on. Newmarket’s the plan, today was a bonus.”