Miko National win would be perfect tonic for Alner

Apr 13 2008 By Gordon Brown

THE Scottish Grand National has produced plenty of emotion over the years - but no victory will be more tear-jerking than one for Miko De Beachene on Saturday.

The horse's trainer Robert Alner was seriously injured in a near-fatal road crash in December.

And what a tonic it would be for brave Alner in his long recovery process if the eight-year-old claimed glory in Ayr's £200,000 showpiece race.

Miko has already done Robert and his wife Sally proud by winning the Welsh National and Red Square Vodka Gold Cup this term.

But victory in Scotland's richest jumps race would put the icing on the cake.

The gelding has been vying for favouritism for the 4m 1f marathon since betting opened.

And Sally - who is running their Dorset training operation as her husband continues his recuperation from a broken bone in his neck - expects a bold showing.

She said: "He's in good form and I expect him to run very well. Our main concern is the ground as we don't want any description containing the word 'firm'.

"We sent him back over hurdles at Cheltenham and he ran a blinder to finish second in the Pertemps Final.

"He will be our third runner in the Scottish National after Sir Rembrandt (13th) last year Honey Mount (17th) in 2001."

However, Sally will be at her local point-to-point meeting instead of Ayr on Saturday because she gets "very emotional" when Miko De Beachene runs.

She said: "They always have a television tuned into the racing so I'll see how we get on. He is a horse we have always thought the world of."

The last horse to complete the Welsh-Scottish National double was Martin Pipe's Run For Free 15 years ago.

And Pipe's son David is likely to rely on Celestial Gold to follow up his Aintree strike with Comply Or Die.

Pipe jnr said: "It would be a nice race to win."

Lanarkshire-born Alan King expects to be represented by top-weight Halcon Genelardais and leading fancy Old Benny.

King said: "They are both in good order. Old Benny has been aimed at Ayr since his win in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and he stays well."

Ferdy Murphy bids for his fourth Scottish National - and third in four years - with Noir Et Vert, 2005 hero Joes Edge and Leading Man.

The chances of a first tartan success since Ken Oliver's Cockle Strand in 1982 rest with Len Lungo's Wild Cane Ridge (25-1), Brooklyn Breeze (50-1) and Lucinda Russell's Strong Resolve (100-1).

Prize money for the twoday meeting hits a record £563,000 and punters can enjoy new £5million facilities for the first time.

Book tickets at www.ayrracecourse.co.uk or call 0870 850 5666.