The Coral Scottish Grand National, Scotland's most prestigious National Hunt contest, was won by Kap Vert, a six‑year‑old gelding trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Johnson White. The pair crossed the finish line well ahead of the runner‑up Git Maker and the third‑placed Kim Roque, delivering a memorable triumph for the Hobbs stable. Kap Vert was still relatively inexperienced over fences, having only five previous attempts at jumping.
Nevertheless, he travelled strongly throughout the race under the guidance of jockey Sean Houlihan, who kept him in a prominent position from the start. His jumping was surprisingly clean for a horse with such limited experience, allowing him to maintain a steady rhythm and avoid the mistakes that often plague younger National Hunt horses. The race was not without drama. Isaac Des Obeaux, the winner of the Midlands National, appeared to be a serious contender.
He stayed with the leaders for much of the contest but made a costly error early in the home straight, hitting a fence and losing momentum. The mistake caused him to drop back to fourth place, illustrating how a single mis‑jump can dramatically alter the outcome in a race of this caliber. Git Maker, who had been travelling well, suffered an even bigger blunder roughly a mile from the finish.
The horse appeared to lose his footing and almost fell, prompting concerns that he might be pulled up. However, jockey Jonathan Burke managed to keep him upright, and Git Maker rallied to finish a close second, just one and a half lengths behind the winner.
His effort was commendable, especially given the near‑fall, and he managed to stay ahead of the 4‑1 favourite Kim Roque, who claimed third place. Earlier in the day, Hobbs and White had already secured a second‑place finish in the Scottish Champion Hurdle aboard Captain Hugo.
The double success at the meeting highlighted the strength of the Hobbs operation, and the £112,000 first‑prize money from the Grand National provided a substantial reward for the Somerset‑based team. Beyond the Scottish National, the racing programme featured several other notable events. On Sky Sports Racing, the Greenham Stakes at Newbury saw Zavateri and Albert Einstein line up for a clash of speed, while the Spring Trials weekend kicked off at the same venue, offering a preview of upcoming middle‑distance targets.
In Newmarket, the Craven Stakes was claimed by Oxagon, adding another victory to the in‑form Gosden stable. Meanwhile, Azleet shocked the betting public with a 50‑1 win in the Nell Gwyn Stakes, positioning the filly as a serious contender for the 1000 Guineas.
Jockey Hollie Doyle contributed a blog post expressing her anticipation of learning more about Derby hopeful Wareeth during the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, underscoring the depth of talent and intrigue across the British flat and jump racing scenes. Kap Vert's victory will be remembered not only for the impressive margin but also for the poise shown by a relatively green horse in a demanding test of stamina and jumping ability. The win adds to Philip Hobbs' impressive record in National Hunt racing and provides a morale boost for his team as they look ahead to future targets, possibly including a return to the Scottish Grand National next year or an attempt at a major English chase.
The full race report, including detailed sectional timings, rider comments, and post‑race analysis, will be published later. In the meantime, the Hobbs stable can celebrate a day of success, and Kap Vert joins the ranks of notable Scottish National winners, a testament to the trainer's skill in developing young talent and the jockey's ability to navigate a complex race with confidence and composure.