Take Control wins Scottish National Take Control gained a hard-fought victory in a dramatic renewal of the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr today. Grey Abbey, six times a winner at the track, and Gunther McBride disputed the lead as the runners set out on the final circuit of the four miles and one furlong contest with the 4-1 favourite Carbury Cross making eye-catching headway on the outside. But Jonjo O`Neill`s charge unshipped Liam Cooper at the second down the back as Shotgun Willy, top weight Marlborough and the Martin Pipe-trained Take Control began to take closer order. As they turned for home it was a wideopen affair with six horses in with a chance and not much had changed at the last fence with Gunther McBride, Grey Abbey, Shotgun Willy and Take Control vying for the lead as Marlborough`s stamina gave out. On the extra long run-in - the last fence was omitted after Wishbone and Paul Robson took a crashing fall on the previous circuit and the runners had to swerve round the obstacle - the winner could still not be named as Shotgun Willy (16-1) began to forge ahead. However, Ruby Walsh conjured an amazing finishing burst from Take Control which carried the 20-1 chance into the lead in the shadow of the post to claim the £60,000 first prize by half a length for owner David Johnson. Gunther McBride, 11-2, was a length and a half back in third with Grey Abbey (13-2) a close fourth. 'It was a bit hairy after the second last,' remarked Walsh. 'It was very tight after the last. I looked up and I was nearly on the hurdles course - I nearly didn`t make it back on. 'The first circuit I was going nowhere but I got him running away down the back.' With just one week of the jumps season remaining the victory has virtually clinched the owners` title as nearest rival Sir Robert Ogden was out of luck with Marlborough and Enrique in the Scottish feature.
