AYR 15:35

All 26 ran. Fences: 27.

Time: 8m 27.2s Closing Sectional: (2.3f): 36.6s (100.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 137%, Betfair SP 99.9%

More failed to get around than they had in the Aintree version the previous week even with 6 fewer runners starting out but, in an admittedly far less emphatic manner, the outcome was still the same as a Mullins-trained stayer took the dominant trainer a big step closer to becoming the first Irish-based handler to seal the British Trainers' Championship over jumps since fellow training titan Vincent O'Brien in the 1950s, giving Ireland its first ever win in the Scottish National in the process as double the number of raiders than the previous high of 4 - made up mostly of half a dozen from Closutton, 2 of whom had left the scene by the first - took their chance; Mr Vango ensured a brisk gallop that put pressure on jumping and soon had several on the back foot.

MACDERMOTT (FR) found only one too good over 2m earlier in the year yet has been transformed by tackling trips half as far again at Fairyhouse and fully double the distance here, even here not foot-perfect - especially early on - but going strongly in touch and still on the bridle as he led after 4 out, erasing any doubts over his likely stamina as he just got the better of a duel with the fellow novice in second in a battle that swung first one way then the other, his head down just in time as he and his 3 stablemates who completed gave his yard a prize money boost of around £130,000 to go with the biggest pot of all it had landed at Aintree the previous weekend.

SURREY QUEST (IRE) got firmly back on the up granted a 3-month break, underlining in no uncertain terms that stamina is his main asset as he failed by the narrowest of margins to make it back-to-back 'National' wins for ex-Henderson inmates at the hands of the stable responsible for the other at Aintree the weekend prior; the winner didn't always jump fluently, either, but he didn't make a blunder as significant as Surrey Quest's at the twentieth (also pecked on landing), putting an even more positive spin on this gutsy performance in defeat, giving his all as he chased the leader down to the last and then engaged him on the run-in, nosing ahead at least once in their battle but thwarted on the nod.

GIT MAKER (FR) ran at least as well as he had behind a subsequent Grade 1-winning novice in the Kim Muir, doing well to sustain his run as he did considering he didn't get into the same rhythm, opening some potentially fruitful options on the marathon handicap scene next season; settled mid-field, his jumping lacked fluency at times (taken out wide for clear sight of fences thirteenth), which played a big part in him requiring strong pressure before 5 out, but he rallied around the field entering the straight and didn't wilt even after that for all he couldn't get on terms with the front pair.

KLARC KENT (FR) clearly improved again to hit the frame in a much higher-quality handicap, even though his stamina looked to have reached its limit by the end; close up, pressed leader sixteenth, lost ground before 5 out, effort again next, held between last 2, no extra final 50 yds; there aren't many better maiden chasers than him in training and he's still had only a handful of starts over fences.

ONTHEROPES (IRE) showed there's still plenty of life left in him after all, unraced over this sort of trip yet doing all his best work late on as he came from what had looked an utterly hopeless position, still appearing to have more to give at the line in a rare show of endurance; raced well off the pace, jumped none too fluently, off pace still 4 out, rallied well from next, nearest at the finish.

SPANISH HARLEM (FR) has gone from winning a 17f hurdle for 4-y-os (only other time he's been tongue tied) in his native France in summer 2022 to seeing out nearly twice that distance in a span of just 8 starts, finishing worse than third for the first time since sent chasing but showing better form regardless in much deeper waters after 9 weeks off; ridden more patiently, settled in rear, baulked first, headway when mistakes nineteenth, twenty-first, crept closer again 4 out, stayed on gradually.

BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE (IRE) fully confirmed his late-season rejuvenation, right in the mix for most of the latter stages; patiently ridden, out wide, progress fourteenth, every chance when not fluent 4 out, no extra from 2 out as though the extreme trip was beginning to tell.

IRON BRIDGE (IRE) came with lowered expectations after Uttoxeter but ended up running better, despite leaving the impression drying ground wasn't in his favour, things happening too quickly for him even over this sort of trip in a well-run race; waited with, jumped better, headway under pressure 5 out, outpaced next, rallied gradually.

WHISTLEINTHEDARK (IRE) shaped as well as he has in what has been a light season, much better than the bare result as his stamina gave way trying an extreme trip for the first time; pressed leader, went with zest, upsides sixteenth, edged ahead eighteenth, headed soon after, weakened from 2 out; he'd be of interest back around 3m next time.

AUTONOMOUS CLOUD (IRE) followed a good run in a heavy-ground Midlands National with a below-par effort under less testing conditions, much like the winner of that race in this (Beauport); held up, some headway twenty-first, hit next, beaten 4 out, not persevered with once held.

MY SILVER LINING (IRE) possibly found this a race too many having plied her trade in stamina-sapping handicaps in the mud all season; handy, blundered twelfth, hampered on landing 5 out, weakened from 3 out.

INIS OIRR (IRE) soon found himself significantly further back than when invigorated by a forcing ride in the Edinburgh National (yard won both races with Mighty Thunder in 2021) back in February but was beginning to pass a few when falling at the fourteenth; he still has age on his side and reverting to front-running tactics will surely follow when he returns to the fold.

WE'LLHAVEWAN (IRE) had plenty on from 5 lb out of the weights but got no further than the first in any case.

PUNITIVE (IRE) failed badly to build on the better signs shown in a considerably weaker race in the Ffos Las mud, refitted with a tongue tie but looking disinclined to exert himself rather than unable from 5 lb out of the weights; raced off the pace, never going well from sixth, behind from eighth.

SECRET REPRIEVE (IRE) seems unlikely to be much of a factor in handicaps of this standing these days (5 lb wrong at weights in this one) and, worse, he was said to have finished lame on just his second outing of the season; mid-division, slow fifteenth, labouring twentieth.

EGBERT had a bit to find from 2 lb out of the weights but shaped like a non-stayer in any case, lazy in his races around 3m rather than a dour sluggard; in touch, hampered, stumbled fifth, pushed along approaching straight, soon done with straight.

WHACKER CLAN (IRE) failed to repeat his Kim Muir effort from 1 lb out of the handicap, enduring a hard race then and possibly not over it while Git Maker was doing something more positive for that form (also franked no end by winner since); mid-field, not fluent eighteenth, lost ground gradually back straight, beaten 5 out.

ANGLERS CRAG finally found his rise coming to a halt, a blunder playing a big part and also found to have bled; settled mid-field out wide, bad mistake thirteenth, lost ground early final circuit, rallied briefly 5 out, beaten next.

BROKEN HALO was found out to some tune in better company, all his form over fences in single-figure fields; in rear, went with little fluency, struggling when mistake eleventh, breathing problem.

MR VANGO (IRE) was notably strong in the market but his apparent fragility faced with far less testing ground might well have reared its head for all he'd done more than ideal in front; made most until 5 out, rallied briefly next, awkward there, beaten quickly.

TOMMIE BEAU (IRE) turned in a rare poor effort on the back of his latest good one in the Eider, much like Anglers Crag from the same race; mid-division, reminders from nineteenth, no response.

GOLD CUP BAILLY (FR) offered little asked a big question coming in cold to a race like this after 12 months off; raced off the pace, blundered twenty-first, struggling after (treated for post-race heat stress).

BEAUPORT (IRE) never gave anything like the same hope away from the Uttoxeter mud, My Silver Lining and Autonomous Cloud also doing little to advertise that Midlands National form; soon detached, jumped none too fluently, never going well, struggling long way out, struck into itself.

ELVIS MAIL (FR) is best excused this run; steadied at the start, very badly hampered first (rider almost dislodged) and jumped with little confidence after, lost touch back straight.

STAY AWAY FAY (IRE) has had a spring to forget, the cheekpieces worn in the Broadway left off here probably to his detriment, though he was said to have suffered a breathing problem as well; mid-division, went with little fluency, out wide, lost place fourteenth, struggling soon after.

MR INCREDIBLE (IRE) pulled out an old party trick out again just a week after his Aintree exit, reluctant to start and refusing to go even as far as the first.