Mission Control for Pipe

Take Control gained a hard-fought victory in a thrilling four-horse finish to the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish National.

Ruby Walsh conjured an amazing finishing burst from the Martin Pipe-trained gelding which carried the 20-1 shot into the lead in the shadow of the post to claim the £60,000 first prize for owner David Johnson by half a length from Shotgun Willy, with the well-backed Gunther McBride a length and a half back in third and course specialist Grey Abbey a close fourth.

The front-running Grey Abbey and Gunther McBride had disputed the lead as the runners set out on the final circuit of the contest over four miles and one furlong with the 4-1 favourite Carbury Cross making headway on the outside.

But Jonjo O'Neill's charge unseated Liam Cooper at the second fence down the back straight as Shotgun Willy, topweight Marlborough and Take Control began to take closer order behind the leading pair.

Approaching the final fence Gunther McBride, Grey Abbey, Shotgun Willy and Take Control were all competing for the lead as Marlborough's stamina finally gave out under his big weight.

On the extra-long run-in - the last fence was omitted after Wishbone and Paul Robson took a crashing fall on the previous circuit and the runners had to swerve round the obstacle - Shotgun Willy began to forge ahead under Barry Geraghty.

However, Walsh then conjured up a late run from his mount to land the spoils. The winning jockey said: 'It was a bit hairy after the second last and it was still very tight after the last. I looked up and I was nearly on the hurdles course - I nearly didn't make it back on.

'The first circuit I was going nowhere but I got him running away down the back.'

Pipe's other challenger Cyfor Malta, ridden by stable jockey Tony McCoy, finished out of the money.

With just one week of the jumps season remaining the victory virtually clinched the owners' title for Johnson as his nearest rival, Sir Robert Ogden, was out of luck with Marlborough and Enrique in the race.