A Mighty victory fulfils Russell's long-held ambition

Scotland’s showcase meeting produces a fairy-tale finish in the Grand National with an unexpected family connection

- MARCUS ARMYTAGE

Ayr Racecourse, Ayrshire

LUCINDA RUSSELL achieved a long-held ambition and completed a fantastic couple of weeks when Mighty Thunder won the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Sunday and, but for Covid which meant she was home by 6 pm that evening, she and Peter Scudamore might still celebrating in the champagne bar at the racecourse.

At the top of the straight, four out, as Sandy Thomson’s pair Dingo Dollar and The Ferry Master started to draw clear, it looked like a one-two for the former Scotland rugby player. However, Tom Scudamore, a substitute for the injured Blair Campbell, was working away on Mighty Thunder.

Although Dingo Dollar, sent north on the recommendation of his former trainer Alan King, was still two lengths up jumping the last, Mighty Thunder was really hitting his stride and stayed on past Dingo Dollar after the last to win by three-quarters of a length.