Auoras Encore never looked like following up his Aintree success as Godsmejudge gave Alan King an emotional success with a convincing victory in the Scottish Grand National.
In doing so, the seven-year-old became youngest horse since Gingembre in 2001 to capture the Ayr marathon.
The Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore, bidding to become only the second horse since Red Rum to follow up his Grand National win in Scotland, was badly hampered early on and found it hard going from there, eventually being pulled up.
Godsmejudge (12-1) stamped his authority in the four-mile (6400m) feature when asked to take the lead by Wayne Hutchinson at the sixth-last fence.
And he kept on strongly to hold the late challenge of Big Occasion by four lengths.
“I’m very proud. I think this means as much as any of the wins I have had. I’m speechless,” King said.
“I worked across the road years ago, I know the area very well and it’s like coming home.
“I was so pleased when he jumped to the front down the back as he likes to be up there and can get intimidated. Wayne gave him a super ride.”
Ryan Mania, rider of the Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore, said the Grand National winner had had a torrid time.
“He was nearly brought down at the second and then he made a bad mistake later on and dropped back,” Mania said.
“He could never really get back into it.
“The main thing is that he has come out of the race well and he’s done us proud though I have to say the ground wasn’t as suitable for him as it was at Aintree.”
