Auroras Encore set for deserved break

“He’s on holiday now,” said High Eldwick-trainer Sue Smith, who says the 11-year-old will go back to nature and spend the coming weeks in a field once there has been sufficient grass growth.

“He had a bit of trouble in running, there was then another mistake down the back on the second circuit, but Ryan looked after him and the horse is fine.”

Saturday’s race highlighted the fickleness of horse racing. While Auroras Encore and Mania were foot perfect at Aintree a fortnight ago they were very lucky to avoid a second fence pile-up at Ayr which claimed three horses and saw jockey Tom Scudamore require hospital treatment for concussion.

A jumping blunder left Auroras Encore among the backmarkers before he was nursed into contention by Mania.

However another error – compounded by dead ground and the burden of top weight – put paid to Auroras Encore’s chances and he galloped home in his own time as Godsmejudge prevailed for jockey Wayne Hutchinson and Scots-born trainer Alan King who served his apprenticeship just across the road from the Ayr track.

“The main thing is that he has come out of the race well,” said Mania. “He’s done us proud though I have to say the ground wasn’t as suitable for him as it was at Aintree. In the Grand National, everything went right. Today, everything went wrong.”