Take Control gained a hard-fought victory in a dramatic renewal of the Gala Casinos Daily Record Scottish Grand National at Ayr today.
Grey Abbey, six times a winner at the track, and Gunther McBride disputed the lead as the runners set out on the final circuit of the four miles and one furlong contest with the 4-1 favourite Carbury Cross making eye-catching headway on the outside.
But Jonjo O'Neill's charge unshipped Liam Cooper at the second down the back as Shotgun Willy, top weight Marlborough and the Martin Pipe-trained Take Control began to take closer order.
As they turned for home it was a wideopen affair with six horses in with a chance and not much had changed at the last fence with Gunther McBride, Grey Abbey, Shotgun Willy and Take Control vying for the lead as Marlborough's stamina gave out.
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 - the winner could still not be named as Shotgun Willy (16-1) began to forge ahead.
However, Ruby Walsh conjured an amazing finishing burst from Take Control which carried the 20-1 chance into the lead in the shadow of the post to claim the £60,000 first prize by half a length for owner David Johnson.
Gunther McBride, 11-2, was a length and a half back in third with Grey Abbey (13-2) a close fourth.
"It was a bit hairy after the second last," remarked Walsh. "It was 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."
With just one week of the jumps season remaining the victory has virtually clinched the owners' title as nearest rival Sir Robert Ogden was out of luck with Marlborough and Enrique in the Scottish feature.