DIARY – AINTREE – FRIDAY 03 APRIL 2009
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I set my alarm for 04:00, but
in the event I didn’t sleep very well and was awake well before that. I got up at 04:15, showered and washed my hair,
ate breakfast, loaded my suitcase and bags into the car, and at 06:08 set off
to pick Lesley up. It was a misty
morning. My route took me via
Harpenden and Dunstable, before heading out west towards her village on the
Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire border. Having texted her before I
left home, she was ready to go when I arrived, so I loaded her suitcase into
the boot of my car, and we set off along the Leighton Buzzard by-pass to join
the A5, then headed northwards, by-passing Milton Keynes, before taking the
road towards Northampton to join the M1 at junction 15. As I don’t particularly enjoy motorway
driving (I become mesmerised by the endless miles of straight road), we
headed for junction 23A, before turning westwards along the dual carriageway
of the A50, passing Uttoxeter on route. We drove through Stoke before joining the
M6 northbound carriageway at junction 15. As we drove north, we passed
Martin Pipe’s horsebox heading up from Wellington in Somerset and also
Brendan Powell’s horsebox coming up from Lambourn. Soon we drove over the Mersey valley and
then turned westwards along the M62 towards Liverpool, before taking the M57
northwards to Aintree. At the end of
the motorway we turned left, drove down past Asda
and were then directed left to reach the car park. It was at this point that we took a wrong
turning, but soon realised our mistake so retraced our route to find the
entrance to the mid-course parking area. Having driven over the canal
bridge, and over a section of the ‘Grand National’ course, we were directed
down a driveway to the security check area.
My car was searched, as were our suitcases, and we were even asked to
open the bonnet too. The underside of
my car was checked, and I joked that the only thing they’d find under there
were fragments of the badger I’d driven over on my way back from Newbury a
couple of weeks ago! It was already
dead I hasten to add. Having been
given clearance, we drove on to park in the field beyond. Having left the car, we
purchased race-cards, and then went through further security checks before
being allowed to walk to the shuttle bus for our trip to the stand-side of
the course. Having worn my flat ‘car
driving’ shoes up to this point, I changed into my high-heeled shoes, popping
my flat ones into my capacious handbag.
As it was our first ever trip to Aintree, we then spent time getting
our bearings. Friday at Aintree is Ladies
Day, and the locals had turned out in their ‘finery’. There was a Matalan fashion show in
progress, but we gave that a miss. Lesley
was cold so she bought some gloves to wear, and we then went to buy coffees. At some point during the
morning we walked past a guy who looked faintly familiar to me – it then
dawned on me that it was Ruby’s England-based valet who we had met at Cheltenham
in December! The mist finally cleared and
the sun came out, which was a relief as it had been overcast and a little
misty up to that point, with quite a stiff breeze. Finally we settled beside the
Parade Ring in preparation for the first race, which was due to be off at
14:00.
Choc’s mount in this race was Silk Hall, the
horse which had given him his 100th success of the current campaign when
winning at Stratford Upon Avon on 09 March 2009. The actor James Nesbitt was in the Parade
Ring, as he is an owner of the Nicky Henderson trained Riverside Theatre
which was also competing in this event.
Having seen the horses
parading in the ring and exiting onto the course, we made our way to the Earl
of Derby Terrace to watch the race.
The start of this event was at the top end of the course, so the race
took place over one and a half circuits of the track. Then they were off. The field was led off by the
iron grey, Benfleet Boy, followed by McMurrough. In
close attendance were El Dancer and Alfie
Flits. Choc aboard Silk Hall was
positioned next to the inside rail, in 5th place. The horses held these positions as they
passed the winning post for the first time.
As the field galloped up the back straight, Candle and Punta Galera brought up the rear, with Riverside Theatre being
pushed along by Barry Geraghty for a few strides. El Dancer also lost his place, dropping
back to dispute 3rd last. Ruby Walsh
rode the blinkered lighter grey horse, American Trilogy, at the back of the
main pack. Silk Hall was pushed for room
as they came around the top bend and had to drop back for a few strides. The Henrietta Knight runner, Somersby,
ridden by AP McCoy led into the final straight, and Choc drove Silk Hall back
up into contention. At the final
flight, AP’s mount was still in the lead, American Trilogy challenging, with Silk Hall a close
3rd. However, the Dominic Elsworth ridden El Dancer came from 6th place at the last
flight to triumph ahead of Ruby’s mount, with Somersby holding on for 3rd.
Silk Hall faded into 5th place behind Riverside Theatre. As he passed the line,
Dominic saluted the crowd and pointed to his shoulder – he was making the
point that he was fully recovered from a shoulder injury which had resulted
in him being ‘jocked-off’ of Darkness, his intended
ride in the Grand National. Darkness’ trainer, Charlie Egerton,
had booked Wayne Hutchinson to take the ride instead. Once reunited with their
stable-hands, the placed horses return down the walkway in front of the main
stands before turning and walking between the Earl of Derby and Lord Sefton stands to return to the Winners’ Enclosure, which
is situated just below the Weighing Room.
The unplaced horses are unsaddled in a railed-off area in front of the
Earl of Derby/Lord Sefton stands. Having unsaddled Silk Hall,
Choc walked in not far behind Dominic and El Dancer. However, Choc nearly came to grief as he
climbed up the steps to the Weighing Room, tripping and almost losing his
footing! But I put that down to the
fact he was holding a conversation with someone who accompanied him up the
steps, so was not paying particular attention to what he was doing. Mind you, I often wonder that the jockeys
don’t trip over the dangling girths as they carry their saddles back to the
Weighing Room!
Having
returned to the Parade Ring, we waited for the horses to enter in preparation
for the next race. Choc did not have a
ride in this event. My pick of the
paddock was the Howard Johnson trained Killyglen
and, in light of the result, I should have put my money on him!
As
before, once the horses had exited onto the course, we walked through to the Earl
of Derby terrace to watch the race.
The start was at the beginning of the home straight, meaning it was
two and a half circuits of the course in distance. Then they were off. Ruby
Walsh sent Herecomesthetruth into the lead from the
start. Richard Johnson’s mount, Massini’s Maguire,
made an error at the first obstacle, and Oscar Bay appeared reluctant,
carrying his head on one side as he travelled down the outside of the field.
Cheating Chance and Coq Hardi brought up the
rear. Another mistake by Richard’s
horse at the 3rd. Shining Gale and Killyglen were taking close order. Yet another mistake by Massini’s
Maguire at the 4th, and then Herecomesthetruth made
a very bad blunder at the open-ditch, taking off far too soon and, although
he did reach the other side, his hind legs crumpled on landing. However, Ruby did recover, having been shot
forwards up the horse’s neck for a few strides. Massini’s Maguire
appeared to have warmed to his task at this stage, but it wasn’t the last of
his errors. As
the field turned away from the stands for the final time, the first horse to
be struggling was Or Jaune. Cheating Chance, with Mark Grant aboard,
fell at the final fence in the back straight, and Oscar Bay fell at the cross
fence. By the time the field had reached
the cross fence, Herecomesthetruth had relinquished
the lead, Killyglen having taken over. As
they galloped down the final straight, Killyglen
went for home, his nearest challenger and looking very dangerous, was Seigemaster.
However Killyglen had plenty in hand, and
went on to win well, the triumphant jockey being Denis O’Regan. Shining Gale came through after the last to
take 2nd, as Seigemaster faded into 3rd place.
We
returned to the Parade Ring in preparation for my highlight of the day – the Melling Steeplechase, in which Choc was riding Alan
King’s stable-star, Voy Por
Ustedes.
Choc was biding to win this Grade 1 race aboard Voy
Por for the second year running. The name Voy Por Ustedes translates as ‘I go
for you’. Sadly a non-runner in this race was Exotic Dancer, who had run a
gallant second in yesterday’s totesport Bowl Chase
only to be struck down by a fatal heart attack following the race. Exotic Dancer was also owned by Sir Robert
Ogden, as is Voy Por.
Having
seen Choc get the leg-up onto Voy Por Ustedes, we headed for the
Earl of Derby terrace area, but this time positioned ourselves beside the course-side
rails, immediately next to where the gate is closed and the stable-staff wait
for their charges to return. The race took place over almost two complete
circuits, the horses parading in number order before setting off to the
start, which was at the beginning of the back straight. Voy Por was on his toes and raring to go today! Then they were off. The
field was led off by the grey, Nacarat, with Briareus upsides, these two were tracked by Petit
Robin. Choc rode wide in 5th position, Tidal Bay also took close order, with Natal
bringing up the rear. Schindlers Hunt was prone to a few errors today. At the cross fence, Briareus
jumped into the lead, but Nacarat soon took up the
running again. At the open-ditch, the
second in the home straight first time around, Briareus
and Tidal Bay bumped into each other, but neither came to harm. As
they galloped away from the stands to head out on the final circuit, 3 horses
were disputing the lead – Nacarat, Briareus and Tidal Bay.
Voy Por was still
travelling well in 5th position, Natal and Takeroc
brought up the rear. However Tidal Bay
soon dropped back to 6th. By the end
of the back straight, Voy Por
had taken 3rd place, although he didn’t jump the 12th obstacle
perfectly. He’d moved up to 2nd as the
field jumped the cross fence. AP
sent his mount, Nacarat, for home as they came into
the straight. Petit Robin blundered at
the 3rd last, but Schindlers Hunt was stalking the
leaders, although he paddled through the 2nd last, the open-ditch. It was time for Nacarat
to relinquish his advantage, as Vor Por and Schindlers Hunt took up
the challenge and disputed the lead jumping the last. However Voy Por jumped it the better and gamely put his head in front
to win. The horse’s 5th Grade 1
victory. Fabulous. We
obviously had Schindlers Hunt’s lad standing behind
us, as we were almost deafened by his shouts in support of the horse. Mind you, I gave him plenty of stiff
competition as I shouted for Choc as they galloped towards the line!
I would
have liked to have stayed by the rails as Choc rode back in, but I felt I
should be on the steppings above the Winners’
Enclosure to welcome him back. I had
to make a quick decision as, for Health and Safety reasons, the gates are
closed when the winning and placed horses return. It’s horrible when I wish to be in 2 places
at once! Along
with the horse’s connections, Choc’s fiancée, Meally, was waiting in the enclosure for Choc to
return. Today she was easy to spot, as
she was wearing her yellow coat. Choc
unsaddled his mount, posed for pictures, and weighed out in the enclosure
too. He then returned briefly to the
Weighing Room (to drop off his saddle and helmet), before coming back for the
presentation ceremony. Following
this he was interviewed by Tom O’Ryan of Racing UK,
and was then directed to the press room for a further interview. We decided to wait for him to return,
instead of going to the stand or course-side rails to watch the next race. Eventually
Choc returned and jogged up the steps towards the Weighing Room. As he passed I congratulated him “Well done
Choc. Fabulous ride”. He acknowledged
me, saying thank you.
Having
remained by the Winner’s Enclosure following the last race, we watched the Topham Steeplechase on the big screen. The event is run
over 18 of the Grand National fences, The Chair being the 3rd fence. There was one non-runner, Mr Pointment. One
jockey change too, Wayne Hutchinson replacing Graham Lee aboard Oneway. 14 of the
horses were outside the handicap, carrying the minimum weight of 10
stone. The
jockeys were raring to go, the starting tape being broken at the 3rd
attempt! Finally they were off. Here is a run-down of the ‘casualties’: Fallers: Frankie
Figg (10th – Becher’s
Brook); Ping Pong Silvola (13th – Valentines);
Bible Lord (13th – Valentines); Gwanako (13th –
Valentines); The Sawyer (last). Unseated: Moncadou (7th); Boomshakalaka
(10th). Pulled Up: Soleil
Fix (after 10th); Iron Man (after 12th); Bagan
(after 12th); Billyvodden (after 12th); Buck the
Legend (before 13th). The
winner this year was Irish Raptor ridden by Paddy Brennan, having taken up
the running before the 11th obstacle, the Fionavon
fence. The horse evidently saves his
best races for the Grand National course, his disappointing ‘park fences’
display ruling him out of the Grand National because he didn’t qualify! In last year’s Topham
he finished runner-up to Gwanako, who came to grief
at the 13th this year. He’s also
pictured on the April page of this year’s Racing Post calendar, jumping one
of the fences alongside the aforementioned Gwanako. Paddy
was caught unawares after the line, as he fell off the horse and had to
scramble back aboard before coming back in to the Winners’ Enclosure.
It
was now time for a Novices’ Hurdle event.
Again we walked through to the area in front of the Earl of Derby
stand to watch the proceedings from beside the course-side rails.
This
event started part way down the home straight, and covered just over 2
circuits of the track. AP was riding
the JP McManus owned Karabak for Alan King. Also taking part were Cheltenham
adversaries Weapon’s Amnesty and Pride of Dulcote.
Then they were off. The
race was led off by Pride of Dulcote, followed by Latanier and Honest John.
Bringing up the rear was Comhla Ri Coig. Honest John took up the running as the
field progressed along the back straight, Karabak
blundering at the 4th flight. Down the
home straight first time, the first 3 hadn’t changed in running, with Ogee
following close behind. 7 lengths covered the field as it headed away from
the stands for the final time. Four
flights from home, Latanier made a mistake and
dropped back very quickly. On Raglan
Road took a very nasty fall at the same obstacle, from which Denis O’Regan limped away.
Jack Doyle was almost unseated from Pause and Clause too, when trying
to take evasive action, ruining any chance he may have had. Karabak was
switched to the outside as they came around the final bend, Pride of Dulcote and Honest John leading them into the home
straight. Sadly Moscow Catch took a
fatal fall at the second last. Despite
the challenges of Weapon’s Amnesty and Karabak,
Ogee (at 25-1) came to take up the running alongside the held up Comhla Ri Coig,
with the former going on to win.
According to Dick under Richard Johnson followed them home in 3rd, and
Karabak held off Weapon’s Amnesty to take 4th. A
Grade 1 victory for freelance journeyman jockey, Jimmy McCarthy, who
sometimes takes rides for Alan King.
The trainer, Renee Robeson, is the wife of former Olympic show-jumper,
Peter Robeson. The
rider-less On Raglan Road followed his compatriots
home, but was found to be lame in his off-fore when caught by his handlers,
the vet examining him before he was led away.
It
was now time for the 6th race of the day, a well-contested 21 runner Handicap
Hurdle. And this is where Lesley regretted not putting a bet on outsider, Time for Rupert. We had been drawn to the horse’s name (a
bear wearing check trousers springs to mind), and I had also pointed out that
Ruby’s real name is Rupert!
As this race was taking place over the same
distance as Race 5, it started half-way down the home straight. Then they were off. The race was led off by the blinkered mare, Gaspara, taking her customary place at the head of the
field. She was followed by Gunner
Jack, Kirbybroguelantern and Giles Cross. Aigle D’Or, Mamlook and Sweetheart brought up the rear. The first flight down the back was
flattened by one of the runners. Time
for Rupert was handy, running next to the inside rail in around 7th
place. Gaspara was still
leading as they galloped down past the stands with one circuit to go, with
the favourite, Captain Americo, making a couple of
jumping errors. Aigle
D’Or began to improve. However, Kayf Aramis made a mistake at
the first flight down the back and began to struggle. By the time they reached the end of the
back straight, Gaspara had surrended
her lead to Kirbybroguelantern. A number of runners began to tail off and
were pulled up. As they turned into the final straight, William
Kennedy drove Time for Rupert into the lead.
Kawagino, Mirage Dor,
Inchidaly Rock, with Andytown
on the wide outside, set off in pursuit.
Jumping the last, Ruby Walsh’s mount, Inchidaly
Rock, had caught Time for Rupert, getting his head narrowly in front. But Time for Rupert fought back bravely to
take the spoils by a head. A 50-1
winner! And William’s first Aintree
Festival winner too.
As Choc
was riding in the final race of the day, we returned to the Parade Ring to
see him receive his riding orders and mount.
His ride in this race was Polly Potter. Alan King had two other entries – Chilli
Rose ridden by Wayne Hutchinson and Miss Overdrive ridden by Gerard Tumulty.
Once the horses had exited the paddock we set off to
reserve our place beside the course-side rails. We saw AP exit onto the course and today’s
question is ... All the jockeys have
the ‘John Smith’ logo sewn on their breeches for the duration of the Aintree
Festival, but AP had no logo on his breeches. Why was he the exception? The
start of this race was over in the far corner of the track, which meant the
field would be required to race for one and a half circuits. Polly Potter accompanied Chilli Rose to the
start, but the former horse was sweating up.
Then they were off. The
field was led off by the very keen Morning Supreme. She was followed by Miss Nightshade and
Miss Vertical. Ruby Walsh restrained
his mount, Candy Creek, at the back.
The first Alan King runner was Miss Overdrive, with Chilli Rose and
Polly Potter keeping company a little further back in the field. At the end of the back straight, Diklers Oscar had to take evasive action when Lilla Sophia was pulled up after sustaining a broken near
hind. Morning
Supreme was still in the lead as they turned into the straight, with Chilli
Rose running very wide, and Choc working hard on the inside aboard Polly
Potter. Soon horses were queuing up
behind the long-time leader – among them Candy Creek, Liss
Na Tintri, and Lady Bluesky. Candy Creek took up the running a furlong
out and went on the win. Liss Na Tintri finished in 2nd,
long time leader Morning Supreme held on for 3rd, with the leading English
contender, Lady Bluesky in 4th. Miss
Overdrive was the best of the Alan King runners in 5th,
Chilli Rose was 6th and Polly Potter 7th. Following
the race we made our way back to the Parade Ring area.
Choc
unsaddled the unplaced Polly Potter on course, and made his way back to the
Weighing Room. He stopped on route to
converse with his mum as he made his way up the steps to the Weighing Room. As we
were staying in Tarbock at a local Premier Inn and
were in no rush to leave, we waited for the crowds to clear before crossing
the home straight to catch the shuttle bus back to the car park. Having collected my vehicle, we drove back
across the ‘National’ course and headed for the M57 and our hotel. We checked in and took our suitcases to our
rooms, stopping to watch the BBC2 Grand National preview programme at
19:00. Their tips were the same ones
which I had mentioned to my friend, Mark, on Thursday afternoon. But, as it later turned out, they weren’t
very good tips – Rambling Minster, Kilbeggan Blade
and Battlecry. What about Choc you ask? Mark had already mentioned that he was going
to put some money on him anyway! At
19:30 we went for dinner at the adjacent Brewers Fayre,
as I’d not eaten anything (or barely anything) since before 06:00! We retired to our rooms at 21:00, and I
spent some time making a few diary notes before I dozed off to sleep after a
long and tiring, but very enjoyable, day!
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