Iris de Balme shocks the field at Scottish Grand National
Iris de Balme, amateur-ridden and owned by ex-footballer Lee Power, turned the marathon Coral Scottish National into a sprint when coming with a storming run to win by 14 lengths and land the biggest prize in trainer Sean Curran's career.
After Dunbrody Millar and Strong Resolve had cut out the pace, the 66-1 winner was the only horse going forward as the field turned into the home straight and, as his sole challenger Halcon Genelardais blundered away any chance at the last, Iris de Balme looked a fresh horse as he sprinted for the line.
Winning seven-pound-claimer 20-year-old Charlie Huxley beamed: "He's class! I didn't have to put him into the race. That was the greatest ride I've ever had in my life."
Earlier, the highly-acclaimed Noland was surprisingly beaten by Starzaan under a never-say-die ride from Robert Thornton, while there was another shock in the Scottish Champion Hurdle when 40-1 chance Border Castle powered clear of Takeroc.
At Newbury, star filly Muthabara left it very late in the Fred Darling 1,000 Guineas trial but, after looking in trouble, her scintillating burst of speed took her to a cosy victory and she looks certain to stay the mile. Winning jockey Richard Hills said afterwards: "It took her six or seven strides to realise what I wanted, but her final furlong was her best."
Paco Boy landed the colts' Greenham Stakes trial at 6-1 and, though he is not yet entered in the first Classic, looked a really useful prospect, heading 33-1 shot Bob's Surprise. The well-fancied favourite Confront was well beaten and Sir Gerry failed to stay.
Royal and Regal wore down pacemaker Tempelstern in stamina-sapping conditions to take the John Porter Stakes, while 9-2 joint-favourite Lang Shining - Ryan Moore's second winner of the afternoon - stole the Spring Cup by a neck from Benandonner, though third-placed Zaahid looked the horse to follow for the future.
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