Captain Cody wins Scottish Grand National

Captain Cody won the Scottish National by a length

Captain Cody won the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, but the race was overshadowed by the deaths of two horses.

The 9-1 winner led a one-two for Willie Mullins from stablemate Klarc Kent.

The result moves the Irish trainer, who landed the Grand National at Aintree a week ago with Nick Rockett, a step closer to a second British championship.

However, the Mullins-trained 2024 winner Macdermott and The Kniphand both suffered fatal injuries.

The Kniphand, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was one of several fallers in the race, while Macdermott was pulled up.

Captain Cody won with an ice-cool ride from British champion jockey Harry Cobden.

Cobden, in only his second ride for Mullins, who saddled the first three at Aintree last week, exuded confidence on the winner.

"I gave Harry one instruction - I said this horse only wins for Jody Townend, Paul's sister, and when Paul gets on, it doesn't particularly work well, so I said to Harry to put on your best ladies' voice! He's Ms Harry Cobden now," said Mullins.

Our Power was third ahead of Grozni, with Rock My Way in fifth place.

Despite being odds-on favourite to win the trainers' title in a fortnight, Mullins is taking nothing for granted in his battle with Dan Skelton.

"Dan won't be standing still so he'll probably win it, and if he does he'll feel like he's won a proper title," Mullins said.

Only eight of the 23 runners finished the Scottish National, and campaign group Animal Rising said the race was "nothing short of carnage".

Activists had criticised the sport following the death of Celebre D'Allen after the Grand National at Aintree.

Meanwhile on Saturday, jockey Harry Atkins was stood down for the day after falling on Snipe and being knocked unconscious.