'It's tough - I've missed what would have been the biggest win of my career'

Prior to the Coral Scottish Grand National, Mighty Thunder had run in 25 races. Blair Campbell had ridden him in 20 of them. No wonder, then, that in his post-race ITV interview, Tom Scudamore was quick to recognise the man who had to watch someone else enjoy what should have been his own finest hour.

It was nobody's fault. Campbell was undone by the sort of bad luck that so often strikes jump jockeys. He suffered hand injuries in a Kelso fall on March 22. His misfortune was that Ayr's signature prize arrived before his recovery.

On Thursday Campbell had wiring removed from the damaged hand. Three days later he was viewing, not riding as Scudamore successfully deputised on the Lucinda Russell-trained novice, whose previous seven victories had all come under the 3lb conditional, the first as far back as June 2017.