Kap Vert collects Scottish National prize for Hobbs and White

Kap Vert provided the training partnership of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White with their biggest winner since taking out a joint licence when causing a 20-1 surprise in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Having just his fifth run over fences, the six-year-old was always travelling strongly in the hands of Sean Houlihan.

While for one so inexperienced his jumping stood up to scrutiny, the same could not be said of Midlands National winner Isaac Des Obeaux who still had every chance until belting one early in the home straight and fading into fourth.

An even bigger mistake came from Git Maker almost a mile from home and while he almost parted company with Jonathan Burke he rallied to be beaten just a length and a half in second, holding off the 4-1 favourite Kim Roque in third.

Hobbs and White finished second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle earlier in the day with Captain Hugo, but with the £112,000 first prize to take back to Somerset this was more than handsome compensation.

White told Racing TV: “There were a lot of unknowns about Kap Vert today, the distance, the ground, going left-handed, but he ticked them all with credit and it’s opened up no end of options for next season.

“We thought he would stay, we were hoping we wouldn’t have the rain we got yesterday but we did, but as we were here we thought it would help us with next season in mind if we ran.

“He’s done everything right this season and has always jumped brilliantly. Having stayed the trip today we’ll see what the handicapper does as to where we end up next spring.

“I hadn’t thought about next season, but he’ll have a nice summer off before we start dreaming. Aintree is in the back of my mind but he needs to be off the right rating.

“I’m so pleased for the syndicate who own him. We bought him off Ronnie Bartlett (owner of Kim Roque) and he was the first person to come over and wish us congratulations.”