The Sue Smith-trained Vintage Clouds was all the rage in the betting ahead of the 2019 edition of the Ayr showpiece. Sporting the famous colours of Trevor Hemmings, the horse had finished third in the race in 2018, and many believed he could go a couple of places better one year on.
Others fancied to go well were the Irish raider, Crosshue Boy, 2018 fourth-place finisher Doing Fine, the hat-trick-seeking Cloth Cap from the yard of Jonjo O’Neill, and Scotland’s own Big River, who had last been sighted flying home for fourth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Result
- 1st – Takingrisks 25/1, Jockey: Sean Quinlan, Trainer: Nicky Richards
- 2nd – Crosspark 10/1, Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Caroline Bailey
- 3rd – Cloth Cap 9/1, Jockey: Richie McLernon, Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill
- 4th – Blue Flight 25/1, Jockey: Callum Bewley, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £122,442.50
- 2nd – £45,945.50
- 3rd – £23,005
- 4th – £11,459.50
- 5th – £5,762
- 6th – £2,881
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £33.20
- Tote Places – 1st – £7, 2nd – £3.40, 3rd – £2.60
- Exacta – £408.90
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £252.60
- Trifecta – £7,484
- Tricast – £2,485.04
Recap
The race lost a little of its lustre when the well-backed duo of Beware The Bear and Dingo Dollar was withdrawn on account of the drying ground. That quick surface helped ensure a fierce gallop throughout, with the time dipping over a second inside the standard for the track.
Favourite Vintage Clouds seemed keen to ensure there was no hanging around, with Cogry joining him to help make the running. The pair were soon in a good rhythm at the head of affairs, but things didn’t start quite so well for Takingrisks, who made a complete hash of the first fence and was lucky to remain on his feet. Jockey Sean Quinlan lost his irons due to the blunder, but he at least had plenty of time to recover.
Little changed on the front end until well into the final circuit, with the major incident behind being the fall of Crosshue Boy at the seventh obstacle. The race complexion then began to change five from home as the pace started to take a toll on the leaders. Takingrisks was the first to go for home, only to be quickly joined by Eider Chase winner, Crosspark. In a titanic dual of staying power, it was Takingrisks who slowly but surely forged clear for a four-length success.
It was the first Scottish Grand National win for both jockey Sean Quinlan and trainer Nicky Richards, who was keen to point out that Northern trainers can do just as well as their southern counterparts when provided with suitable ammunition.
Runners
- 1. Beware The Bear – Non-runner/li>
- 2. Sizing Codelco – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Colin Tizzard, Jockey: Harry Cobden
- 3. Vintage Clouds – SP: 5/1F, Trainer: Sue Smith, Jockey: Danny Cook
- 4. Blue Flight – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Callum Bewley
- 5.Dingo Dollar – Non-runner
- 6. Carole’s Destrier – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Sandy Thomson, Jockey: Robert Dunne
- 7. Crosshue Boy – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Sean Thomas Doyle, Jockey: Sean Flanagan
- 8. Crosspark – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Caroline Bailey, Jockey: Harry Skelton
- 9. Cogry – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- 10. Skipthecuddles – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Graeme McPherson, Jockey: Kielan Woods
- 11. Big River – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Lucinda Russell, Jockey: Derek Fox
- 12. Red Infantry – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Ian Williams, Jockey: Tom O’Brien
- 13. Impulsive Star – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Neil Mulholland, Jockey: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
- 14. Arthur’s Gift – Non-runner
- 15. Kingswell Theatre – Non-runner
- 16. Brian Boranha – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Peter Niven, Jockey: Henry Brooke
- 17. Takingrisks – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Nicky Richards, Jockey: Sean Quinlan
- 18. Cloth Cap – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill, Jockey: Richie McLernon
- 19. Chidswell – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Nicky Richards, Jockey: Craig Nichol
- 20. Mysteree – Non-runner
- 21. Beau Du Brizais – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Philip Hobbs, Jockey: James Best
- 22. Rathlin Rose – SP: 33/1, Trainer: David Pipe, Jockey: Tom Scudamore
- 23. Acdc – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Chris Grant, Jockey: Paddy Brennan
- 24. Chic Name – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Richard Hobson, Jockey: Jonathan Burke
- 25. Geronimo – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Sandy Thomson, Jockey: Rachael McDonald
- 26. Morney Wing – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Charlie Mann, Jockey: Rex Dingle
- 27. Doing Fine – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Neil Mulholland, Jockey: Brendan Powell
- 28. Van Gogh Du Granit – SP: 66/1, Trainer: David Pipe, Jockey: David Noonan
Non Runners
Arthurs Gift (unsuitable ground), Beware The Bear (unsuitable ground), Dingo Dollar (unsuitable ground), Kingswell Theatre (unsuitable ground), Mysteree (unsuitable ground).