Court Minstrel tops in Scottish Champion

Court Minstrel (4/1) got up under a confident ride from Adam Wedge to take the Grade 2 QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Evan Williams' six-year-old has looked a progressive sort this season with victories at Plumpton and Cheltenham this season and he could well be the sort to take a hand in next season's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on the evidence of this performance.

Wedge said: "The boss told me to be as confident as I could and that I'd got one run over the last, and the horse has done it fantastically.

"Thank God the ground was drying out. If it had been any softer he wouldn't have enjoyed it. He's handled it not a bother.

"Even though I've not got there until after the last, he was still having a little look around in front, but he's stuck his head down and done it well."

A delighted Williams said: "This is a good horse and he has showed it there.

"I'm just very sorry for Paul Moloney. He is suspended for riding a great race in the Grand National at Aintree (on Cappa Bleu). He's done a lot of work with this horse.

"All credit to Adam. He's ridden some good races on bad horses for me and he deserved a chance on a good horse in a good race.

"We will think about the Swinton Hurdle (at Haydock) but he would have a big weight in that sort of race and to be honest he would be more suited by running in conditions races.

"If he did run again before next winter the race would probably be the Galway Hurdle. That would be the right race for him."

Bygones of Brid attempted to make all from the release of the tapes and Karen McLintock gave a bold sight under Brian Hughes but the cards were to be played at the last as the long-time leader was swamped from all quarters and having sat at the back at the run-in, the winner breezed past and put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

Samtegal sat prominently throughout and had no answer to the winner as Silk Hall ran on to be a never nearer third.

Grumeti shaped well on his first run for 329 days while Ifandbutwhynot took a bad fall at the second last but both he and jockey, Timmy Murphy, were up safely though the rider was forced to forego his ride on Rival D'Estruval in the Scottish National.