Sean Is De Top Man

Apr 20 2008 By Gordon Brown

Curran's Joy As Iris Bolts In At 66s

SEAN CURRAN was in dream land last night after saddling Iris De Balme to an incredible 66-1 triumph in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Curran has been training just over a year but looks set for a bright future after his gelding made a nonsense of his long odds to score a 14-length success under rookie rider Charlie Huxley It was also a sweet victory for Huxley, 20, after being jocked off hot favourite Old Benny.

The Alan King-trained horse - who was backed into 4-1 before the off - couldn't live with Iris De Balme in the closing stages and could only finish fourth under Richard Johnson behind Halcon Genelardais (10-1) in second and third placed Flintoff (28-1).

Eight-year-old Iris - co-owned by former footballer Lee Power and Geoff Peck - was the longest priced winner of the Ayr showpiece since Astral Charmer obliged at the same odds for the late Harry Bell in 1981.

And despite his massive starting price there were a few smiling faces as two bets of £10,000-£100 each-way were struck about the southern raider.

However, the happiest man at the Craigie track was Curran - although he insisted his celebrations wouldn't be wild because he's back on riding duties tomorrow.

Curran, 37, is still combining being a jockey with training and he said: "I can't be celebrating too much as I'm back in the saddle for Plumpton on Monday.

"I've ridden in the Scottish National and one year I was sixth or seventh on Killeshin - I also won the Eider Chase on him.

"This horse was nearly two stone out of the handicap so we had to claim off him and Charlie's 7lb allowance was ideal.

"Mattie Batchelor normally rides him but we had to redress the balance a little and my best mate Timmy Murphy suggested what WE should do.

"I've only had a trainers' licence for a year and a half and to have a runner in the race like this is a dream so you can imagine what it feels like to actually win it.

"Hopefully we'll go to Sandown next Saturday for the Betfred Gold Cup when Mattie will be back on as he's his ride."

Huxley is the first amateur to land the Ayr marathon since Peter Craggs rode Jedburgh-trained King Con to victory in 1978.

He said: "The horse carried me there the whole way and the race turned out perfectly. We decided to take the inside route as the ground was so rough on the outside and the plan worked well.

"I couldn't have asked for a better ride and Iris was always travelling and jumping well.

"Turning for the final time I knew I was getting a great spin and then when we flew the third last I thought 'this is it'."

Huxley is based with King and the Scots handler was delighted for his rider despite him denying top weight Halcon Genelardais.

King said: "I'm proud and happy for Charlie even if he's getting sacked on Monday morning. It was also an awesome performance by Halcon Genelardais although the drying ground didn't help his cause."

Again there was no Scottish winner since Cockle Strand in 1982 for the 17,200 crowd to cheer.

Lucinda Russell's Strong Resolve was 10th of the 15 finishers while Len Lungo's quietly-fancied Wild Cane Ride was pulled up on the final circuit.

It was a day of surprises and earlier Border Castle - trained in Somerset by Andy Haynes - produced the biggest shock in the 42-year history of the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He landed a huge 40-1 upset in the hands of amateur Nick Scholfield.

The winner was chased home by Takeroc, the third consecutive favourite to finish runner-up for Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls.

Noland was the most expensive failure for backers and the 4-7 hot pot is set for a breathing operation after choking when collared on the run-in by Starzaan in the Future Champion Novices' Chase.

At least the day started on a winning note for Scotland with Jim Goldie's La Vecchia Scuola scoring by 15 lengths to follow-up her success 24 hours earlier.

HOW THEY FINISHED

1 IRIS DE BALME

66-1

2 HALCON GENELARDAIS

10-1

3 FLINTOFF

28-1

4 OLD BENNY

4-1fav

FIFTEEN finished the race but some didn't get round: Azulejo pulled up; In The Loop pulled up; Irish Wolf pulled up; Kilbeggan Blade pulled up; Miko de Beauchene pulled up; Model Son fell; Opera Mundi pulled up; Patsy Hall brought down; Wild Cane Ridge pulled up.