'Only small but she's all heart' - Anna Bunina lands Scottish Champion Hurdle

Saturday: Ayr

Irish mares are hard to beat in Champion Hurdles, whether at Cheltenham or Ayr. Anna Bunina is no Honeysuckle but she battled back bravely to land the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle for John McConnell.

She finished second to Milkwood in this race last year and jockey Sean Bowen feared she would miss out again, only for his mount to rally on the run-in to win by a length.

"I had no doubt going to the last, then I got absolutely milled," the rider said. "That wasn't ideal but she's a brave little girl and she stuck her head down from the back of the last.

"She was well in on last season's form and she's proved it. She's come down a few pounds and Milkwood had gone up."

Martin Fox, representing McConnell, said: "She's a tough little horse. She's only small but she's all heart. John's son Killian does all the work with her and he had her in tip-top shape."

Job Done

Do Your Job justified favouritism to provide Michael Scudamore with the biggest win of his career in the Future Champion Novices' Chase.

The eight-year-old gave the trainer his first Grade 2 success when finishing five lengths clear of Minella Drama under Richard Patrick.

"He's always threatened a performance like that," said Scudamore, who confirmed Do Your Job would be put away until next season.

Do Your Job: a first Grade 2 winner for trainer Michael ScudamoreCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

His owner Mark Dunphy jokingly mapped out an ambitious campaign for Do Your Job, which includes the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the festival in March.

Do Your Job finished second behind the Arkle winner Edwardstone in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton this season.

"We've never hidden our liking for him," said Dunphy. "We've had a quiet chat about the King George. He just keeps getting better."

Dusart too smart

In-running punters suffered a blow at the end of a topsy-turvy race for the £50,000 novice handicap chase.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Dusart looked sure to come off second best when headed two out by Sounds Russian, who was matched at the minimum 1.01 on Betfair for £768.

But he fought back in the 3m contest and regained the lead on the run-in to land the prize by half a length.

"We got headed but he's such a gutsy horse," jockey Nico de Boinville said of the winner, who was matched at a high of 48 and had finished fifth in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Dusart (right) rallied to get the better of Sounds RussianCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I knew after Cheltenham that he finds an awful lot under a bit of pressure. He's a real fighter."

Sounds Russian's trainer Ruth Jefferson was left rueing one that got away and said: "For a long time I thought he had it, but I suppose he's won his races so easily that it's been a while since he's had to put his head down and fight. He'll probably learn a lot from it."

Happy Return

No wonder Rebecca Menzies was smiling. What better way is there to get in with your landlord than to bring his horse back from a five-month break to land a £30,000 race on Scottish Grand National day?

Return Ticket showed his trainer had him readied to the minute as he battled on well under Sean Quinlan to land the Listed 2m chase in the colours of John Wade, who owns the trainer's Sedgefield yard.

Return Ticket: 'The horse must have grown up an awful lot'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We gave him a break over the depths of the winter and waited for the better ground," Menzies said of the winner, who was having his second crack at the race.

"John's been very patient and I'm delighted for him. He's got friends here today and they're staying over tonight, so they'll make a good party of it.

"The horse must have grown up an awful lot because we ran him in this race last year and he just panicked going that sort of speed. The ground is crucial to him and we'll see what the handicapper does and find something for him."

Replays, results and analysis

Read more from Ayr:

Win My Wings secures flawless Scottish Grand National 1-2 for Christian Williams

2022 Scottish Grand National: where your horse finished and who won

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday