Vicente secures back-to-back Scottish Grand National wins at Ayr

The eight-year-old , ridden by jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, went into the race as joint-favourite but was given a stiff test in this year’s renewal and had to get past Cogry in the closing stages to eventually win by a nose.

The winning jockey’s father Nigel looked to have the race won with outsider Cogry, who went clear under Jamie Bargary only six days after finishing second in the West Wales National.

But as the pair fought out a battle between themselves for the line, it was Vicente who had the deciding edge in the final few yards and prevailed by the narrowest of margins.

Twiston-Davies Senior also took third place thanks to the veteran Benbens who stayed on well, with Alvarado claiming fourth.

The only Scottish-trained horse in the race, Seldom Inn, ridden by the Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox, pulled up early.

Speaking afterwards, jockey Twiston-Davies said, “Paul had him primed for the National and that didn’t go to plan, but it has worked out great.

“The boss has turned it around. He is one of the best trainers in the country. Fair play to Vicente. He’s a very brave horse, he’s tried very hard and saved my day.”

The victory also gave Paul Nicholls a boost in the jump trainers’ championship as he chases Nicky Henderson, after the former was only narrowly beaten in the Scottish Champion Hurdle with Zubayr.

• In other horse racing news, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin belatedly got their hands on the Sydney Cup after Polarisation registered victory in the A$2 million feature at Royal Randwick Raceourse in Sydney, Australia.

Polarisation, ridden by Corey Brown, had passed the post first in the Sydney Cup which was run a fortnight ago on Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day, but the stewards declared the contest a ‘no-race’ on safety grounds after Almoonqith and Who Shot Thebarman fell.

Who Shot Thebarman – showing no ill effects from the incident two weeks ago – did provide a stern late challenge to the winner inside the final furlong, but the Godolphin runner stayed on well to gain belated success and provide Appleby with a first Group 1 winner in Australia in the process.