Beshabar seals late compensation

The 15-2 chance had chased home the reopposing Chicago Grey in the National Hunt Chase at Prestbury Park but while that Irish raider faltered this time, Beshabar and Richard Johnson got it spot-on from the front.

Last year’s winner Merigo ran a fine race once again to fill the runner-up spot, but Beshabar was in determined mood and held on for a three-quarters-of-a-length triumph.

Vaughan said: “It’s like a dream come true, we had our first Grade One winner last week at Aintree (Saint Are) and I had a big hangover then, but after winning the Scottish National, I think I’ll have a double one!

“There is no doubt that we will aim him at the Aintree Grand National next season and all the plans through the season will be geared towards that.”

The race was marred by two fatalities, as Minella Four Star was reported at the course to have died from internal bleeding, while Tom George confirmed on Twitter that his Regal Heights suffered a heart attack in the race.

These represented the first deaths in the contest since 2002, when Wishbone I fell after a fall at the 18th fence.

Ferdy Murphy’s Poker De Sivola had a day to forget, unseating rider Graeme lee at the 11th.

n Connections of odds-on Qipco 2000 Guineas favourite have all but ruled out the possibility of supplementing a pacemaker for the Classic.

Trainer Henry Cecil ran Derby prospect Picture Editor in the hope of setting a good gallop for the unbeaten colt in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, but by halfway Frankel had cruised upsides.

Owner Khalid Abdullah still has the likes of Dux Scholar and Rerouted engaged, but they are trained by Sir Michael Stoute and Barry Hills respectively.

“I’ve spoken to Henry this morning and he’s come out of the race really well and the race went pretty much according to plan,” said Abdullah’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe.

“I don’t think I was worried at any stage. He seems to be pulling but he has such a tremendous stride which helps him dominate his races.

“We wouldn’t supplement a pacemaker, I don’t think. We’ll see how the race looks like shaping up and discuss with Henry what might be the best plan – all these things are up for discussion.

“I think we’ve always been excited about him, ever since he’s been a young horse. I would hope we’ll see a better Frankel in the Guineas, Henry said he’d left a bit to work on and he should come on a good deal. I wouldn’t want to be too dogmatic at the moment regarding the Derby.”

n Willie Twiston-Davies faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg at Stratford on Sunday.

The young jockey fell from Battlecry when the 10-year-old gelding slipped up in the Bet totepool At totesport.com Hunters’ Chase.

He has been taken to Warwick Hospital and will undergo surgery on Sunday evening.

Willie’s brother, Sam Twiston-Davies, said: “It’s bad news as he’s broken his femur in his right leg.

“He’s obviously going to be out of action for quite a while, but he’s not in too bad spirits, considering. He’s gone to Warwick Hospital and will be operated on there.”

n Hoof It and Kieren Fallon look favourites in the RIU Palace Meloneras Handicap at Pontefract.

The Mick Easterby-trained four-year-old, owned by golfer Lee Westwood and his agent ‘Chubby’ Chandler, ended last season on the upgrade as he found the return to sprinting and the minimum trip very much to his liking.

Blessed with a high cruising speed, he was just touched off by Cheveton at Haydock in September before coming good in a really competitive event at Doncaster.

Raised 4lb for his Haydock run to a mark of joint-career-high of 94, he could have been called an early winner, reversing running with fourth-placed Cheveton.

Runner-up Noble Storm has won twice since, the latest of which off a mark of 102, so the 5lb rise handed out by the handicapper to Hoof It looks fair enough for one still relatively lightly raced.