The magnificent Glasgow crowd, whose appreciation of a champion has been noted and cherished by visiting connections over many decades, had a full blown local hero to cheer to the rafters as Hot Pipe produced a true braveheart performance to land the RPGTV Scottish Derby.
Jim ‘Scotchie’ Brown’s runner went to trap six as the 25-1 outsider, having traded at 40-1 earlier in the day. He was quickest of the field into his stride as he led up (3.63 sect) from 4-5f Ballymac Matt (3.65) and Fair Taxes (3.67). As so sharply predicted by Pat Rosney in his Star column, the two-three-four formed a canine ruck on the run-up and duly ended each other’s chances.
Favourite backers would have felt confident as Irish Derby winner Ballymac Matt reached the first bend in a prime spot, but as in the first round, his steering was erratic and he lost ground on the leader. As they headed up the back straight, it was Irish raider Fair Taxes who closed on the leader and as they swung off the last bend, Francie Murray’s black appeared to hit the front. But Hot Pipe was having none of it and rallied gamely. As the line approached, Ballymac Matt found his top gear and was travelling the quickest of the trio.
They crossed the line for a three-way photo finish and the judge confirmed the first Scottish winner since Cosa Orchis in 1974, and the biggest upset since Glideway Sam in 1992, also 25-1.
It was a magnificent win for owner and kennel hand Roy Smith and trainer Jim Scotchie Brown who was overcome by emotion for his TV interview and practically unable to speak.
The winner, who had been bought “for small money” after winning two of his ten Irish races (28.85, 28.91 Shel Pk) contested handicap races at Shawfield at the start of his UK career. He only scraped through his heat by a head and had been beaten four and a half lengths, on merit, by Ballymac Matt in the semis, though none of that mattered on the night.
Owner Roy Smith said: “I knew we had him right, I knew his weight was perfect.When I had him on a leash, I said to Jim, I knew he was getting stronger, but I thought he was beat when I was in the middle (watching).”
RPGTV SCOTTISH DERBY Shawfield 480m £20,000 Saturday April 9
- HOT PIPE (Head Bound-Sillott Mo) (T6) 25-1
- FAIR TAXES (Head Bound-Pride And Glory) (T5) 5-1
- BALLYMAC MATT (Tyrur Big Mike-Ballymac Scarlet) (T1) 4-5f
- EDEN THE KID (Westmead Hawk-Cabra Jade) (T3) 3-1
- DROOPYS BUICK (Yeah Man-Droopys Hilda) (T4) 7-2
- LEAVE AT DAWN (Foley Folley-Toms Delight) (T2) 10-1
29.09 (N ) sh, hd, 1¾, hd, 1 Owner: Mr R Smith Trainer: Jim Brown
Hot Pipe t6 wins RPGTV Scottish Derby final by a short head from Fair Taxes (t5) Ballymac Matt (t1) head away third. Shawfield 9th April 2016. Photo: Steve Nash
Earlier on the same card, Pat Rosney’s Newinn Champ (Aero Majestic-Little Flutter, Jul 14) produced a stunning 28.87 victory (480m) to land the £2,000 puppy final. The half brother of Newinn Yolo came out on top by half a length following a great buckle with Slippy Perry.
The 500m final, also worth £2,000 went to Julie Bateson’s Halcrow Bound (Head Bound-Ballycowen Sal). The 4-1 shot beat beat Droopys Benz by just under two lengths in 30.25.
