PART II
DIARY – AINTREE FESTIVAL
GRAND NATIONAL DAY
SATURDAY 06 APRIL 2013
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Winner of the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle, Solwhit Click here to read my Grand National Day Diary Part I Before the first ‘proper’ race of the day, Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins
performed the National Anthem from a podium close to the finishing line,
opposite the grandstands. I know the
National Anthem is performed prior to a number of sporting events but, in
this instance, I thought it rather incongruous. I didn’t go to the course-side rails
to watch this race, as I’d stayed beside the Winners’ Enclosure in order to
speak with Choc. However, I did view
it on the large screen to the rear of the Parade Ring. The starting gate for this race was
located midway down the back straight, with two flights to negotiate before
the far turn. The Paul
Nicholls-trained Dodging Bullets was wearing earplugs today; the horse was
actually bred by Frankie Dettori. After a disappointing run in the Supreme
Novices’ Hurdle, when the horse bled from his nose, connections were hoping
for a much better run today.
Then
they were off. The runners were led
away by the Donald McCain trained Up And Go, from Eduard, the mare Utopie Des Bordes, Vasco D’Ycy, Seefood, Dodging
Bullets, Ubak and Morning Royalty. Having negotiated two flights, the runners
headed around the far turn, Up And Go with a two or three lengths advantage
over the field. There
was no change at the head of affairs as the runners travelled down the home
straight on the first occasion; in second position was Utopie
Des Bordes, from Eduard, Seefood,
Ubak, and Vasco D’Ycy;
Dodging Bullets had dropped a number of lengths off the pace, only Morning
Royalty behind him. Heading
around the grandstand turn and along the back straight for the final time, Up
And Go continued to lead, from Utopie Des Bordes, Seefood and
Eduard. Dodging Bullets was now at the
rear of the field; he came under pressure approaching the final flight in the
back straight, after which he received reminders from his jockey Ruby
Walsh. Up
and Go led into the final turn, from Utopie Des Bordes, Eduard, Seefood and Ubak; the remaining three had begun to lose touch. The runners turned into the home straight,
the long-time leader losing his position as the runners headed towards the
third last flight. Barry Geraghty’s mount soon taking up the running, closely
pursued by Seefood.
The
four leading horses began to extend their advantage as they now approached
two out, the mare still with her head in front, Seefood
to the near-side, between them and mounting a strong challenge was Ubak, with Eduard to the far side; the latter was the
first to capitulate. The
leaders cleared the flight in unison, after which Ubak
forged clear under a strong drive from his rider, Jamie Moore. Having jumped the last flight, the maiden
continued to extend his lead and went on the win by 16 lengths at the
line. Utopie
Des Bordes and Seefood
continued to battle it out for the minor honours, the former prevailing by ¾
of a length. Eduard completed in 4th,
with Morning Royalty 5th. The
long-time leader Up And Go finished 6th; Dodging Bullets a tailed off 7th. Vasco D’Ycy was
pulled up.
NEWS FROM THE
STEWARDS’ ROOM FOLLOWING THE RACE:
Paul Nicholls, the
trainer of DODGING BULLETS, unplaced, reported that the gelding bled from the
nose. The starting
gate for the second race was in the far corner of the track; the cross fence
being the first obstacle. Bryan Cooper
was deputising for the injured Andrew Lynch aboard Special Tiara; the latter jockey
having got hurt during yesterday’s Topham Chase.
Then
they were off. Overturn took up the
running as they headed to the first, although he was quickly taken on by
Special Tiara for that role. Baily Green blundered at this fence, as did Marshall
Zhukov; the latter jumping out to his right. The
runners turned the corner and headed down the home straight for the first
time. Special Tiara held the advantage
over Overturn and they, in turn, led the others by four or five lengths. Clearing the next, Sire De Grugy held third position, from Baily
Green, Alderwood and Marshall Zhukov; the latter
continuing to jump out to his right.
Jamie Moore’s mount took off too soon at the open-ditch and struggled
to reach the far side, landing awkwardly as a result. Heading
down past the winning post with one circuit to go, Special Tiara held a two
length advantage from Overturn, followed by Alderwood,
Sire Du Grugy, Baily
Green and Marshall Zhukov. Having
taken the inside line around the grandstand turn, Overturn nipped up the
inside of the Henry De Bromhead-trained runner and
took a narrow lead. The
field headed along the back straight, with Marshall Zhukov losing ground each
time he jumped out to his right; Baily Green
remained at the rear of the field and was soon struggling. Upon reaching the far turn, the leader
received a reminder from his jockey, Jason Maguire. The field headed over the cross-fence,
Special Tiara still in second position, from Sire Du Grugy,
Alderwood and Marshall Zhukov. Baily Green
jumped this fence but was pulled up before the next. Overturn
led over three out, Sire Du Grugy now his nearest
pursuer. Alderwood
was outpaced at this point, but an animated AP McCoy was doing his best to
rally his mount. The leaders jumped
the final open-ditch, the Donald McCain runner holding a clear advantage but
Special Tiara then began to close, with Alderwood
now in third position as Sire Du Grugy faded. Overturn
was one length up as he jumped the last but the Irish raider gradually wore
him down as they approached the line; he collared the gallant bay and he won
by 1¾ lengths. Alderwood
was a further 2¼ lengths back in 3rd, with Sire Du Grugy,
who had blundered badly at the last, in 4th.
Marshall Zhukov completed 5th and last. The
28-1 outsider had won. The bookies
must have been pleased, for the winner of the first race had also been a big
price at 22-1.
Channel 4’s Come Dine With Me had recorded a
special ‘Grand National’ themed
edition prior to this year’s event; the two-part offering had been broadcast on
TV during the early evening on Day One and Day Two of the Festival. Taking part were jockey Mattie Batchelor, ex-footballer now racehorse trainer Mick Quinn,
Channel 4’s Emma Spencer and former Wall Street banker Sally
Rowley-Williams. I mention this
because the owner of Special Tiara is Sally Rowley-Williams (she’s a stuffed
shirt!). NEWS FROM THE
STEWARDS’ ROOM FOLLOWING THE RACE:
WHY THEY RAN BADLY This year, the Aintree Hurdle and Liverpool
Hurdle swapped days; the former event took place on Thursday, the latter
being run today. There were two Alan
King runners in the race, Smad Place and Cheltenham
Coral Cup winner Medinas. The starting gate for this event was situated part
way up the home straight, with one flight and then two full circuits of the
course to travel.
Then
they were off. Clearing the first
flight, the runners were led by American Spin, from Celestial Halo, Smad Place, Attaglance, Holywell, Oscara Dara, African Gold, Bear’s Affair, Solwhit,
Won In The Dark, Medinas, Any Given Day and Grands Crus. Jason Maguire’s mount received a couple of
backhanders as they headed towards the lollipop on the first occasion. Travelling
up the back straight, Celestial Halo joined American Spin at the head of
affairs clearing the second flight; African Gold hit this hurdle. Any Given Day, in rear, received further
reminders. Ruby Walsh’s mount lead
over the next and continued to cut out the running heading into the far turn;
he was followed by American Spin, Attaglance and Smad Place. At the
rear of the main group were Grand Crus, Medinas and Won In The Dark; then a gap to Any Given Day. Turning
into the home straight once more, Bear’s Affair blundered badly at the 5th
flight and his jockey Barry Geraghty pulled him up
before the next. Celestial Halo
continued to lead as the runners headed over the next two flights; closely
pursued by Attaglance, Holywell
and Smad Place.
Medinas, who was
one from the rear, was bustled up having cleared the last of these. The
field galloped around the grandstand turn and out into the country for the
final time. Celestial Halo disputing
the lead with Attaglance as they jumped the next
flight. The runners were still closely
grouped as they headed towards end of the back straight, clearing two more
hurdles en route. The jockeys aboard
the final three in the vanguard, Medinas, Any Given
Day and American Spin, were more animated than the other riders; the latter
two receiving reminders heading into the far turn. Celestial
Halo disputed the lead with Attaglance around the
final turn before heading into the home straight. Clearing three out, Smad
Place jumped into the lead; Grand Crus had crept up
the inside of the field and was now disputing second with Celestial Halo, Attaglance and African Gold. Holywell and Won
In The Dark was just a length down on these, with Solwhit
cruising into contention close behind these. Wayne
Hutchinson’s mount had a narrow advantage over Grand Crus
as they jumped two out, with Solwhit breezing up
between them; African Gold, Won In The Dark and Holywell
just a length behind these. Paul Carberry pushed his mount into the lead approaching the
last and he jumped it clear of Holywell and Smad Place; the latter making a slight error here. Solwhit then drew clear
to win easily by three lengths, from Holywell, with
Smad Place a further 1¼ lengths back in 3rd. Won In The Dark claimed 4th, with African
Gold 5th, Celestial Halo 6th, Grand Crus fading
into 7th. Medinas
having been pulled up before 2 out. Solwhit had now won eight
Grade 1 races.
NEWS FROM THE
STEWARDS’ ROOM FOLLOWING THE RACE:
I
returned to the Weighing Room steppings to see the
placed horses arrive back. Choc
put in an appearance after this race too, accompanying Smad
Place’s connections into the Winners’ Enclosure. If you don’t win, third position is good,
as there’s always more room on the Steppings to the
far side of the Winners’ Enclosure opposite the third place marker! The
placed horses having been taken back to the stable area, Choc accompanied the
owners as they headed out of the Winners’ Enclosure and set off in the
direction of the grandstands. It would
be my last sighting of Choc today ... but I didn’t mind as, until this
morning, I would never have dreamed that I’d see him at all during my trip to
Aintree, let alone speak with him or kiss him on the cheek! The
starting gate for the next race was at the far end of the home straight, with
that and two full circuits to travel.
Then
they were off. The runners were led
away by Brave Spartacus, from Planet Of Sound and Problema
Tic. All the competitors safely
negotiated the first three fences, although Cannington
Brook dived slightly over the second, the open-ditch, and made an even worse
error at the next and lost a few places. Heading
around the grandstand turn the order was Brave Spartacus, from Problema Tic, Planet Of Sound, Storm Survivor, Tour Des
Champs, Loch Ba, Duke Of Lucca, Cantlow,
Battle Group, Ballyoliver, Blenheim Brook, Cannington Brook, Garynella, Ikorodu Road, Mac Aeda, Russian
War, Opening Batsman and Johns Spirit. The
leader jumped the next obstacle a little awkwardly but remained ahead. Having cleared the next open-ditch, Cannington Brook received a couple of backhanders. At the end of the back straight, Brave
Spartacus still held a clear advantage over the field and Johns Spirit
continued to bring up the rear. The horses headed around the far turn, over
the cross-fence and turned into the home straight to complete their first
circuit. There had been no casualties
thus far. The
field set off down the home straight, clearing all three fences without any
significant problems, the long-time leader with a six length advantage as
they passed the winning post with one circuit to go. Problema Tic
continued to travel in second position, from Planet Of Sound and Tour Des
Champs; Opening Batsman had made noticeable progress on the outside of the
field, but was then trapped out wide as they made the grandstand turn. Cannington Brook
had dropped to the rear of the runners and was being driven along. The
runners then began their journey down the back straight for the final time; Problema Tic and Ballyoliver
both hit the first in the line of fences.
Having cleared the next, losing contact were Russian War, Blenheim
Brook and equal top-weight Cannington Brook. Brave Spartacus led the horses into the far
turn, from Problema Tic, Battle Group, Tour Des
Champs, Planet Of Sound, Cantlow, Loch Ba, Ikorodu Road, Mac Aeda, and Johns Spirit.
The fancied Opening Batsman, winner of this season’s Racing Plus
Chase, was pulled up at the end of the back straight having made a couple of
jumping errors. The
leader dived at the cross-fence but survived; Problema
Tic was soon upsides him, with the nose-banded and cheek-pieced Battle Group
to their outside a length behind.
These were followed by the grey Mac Aeda,
Tour Des Champs, Loch Ba, Cantlow
and Johns Spirit; the others could be discounted. Tom
Scudamore’s mount led over the third last; but Battle
Group cruised upside and took over at the head of affairs as they cleared the
final open-ditch. Mac Aeda became his closest challenger as they galloped
towards the last; but Daryl Jacob was fully in control of the situation and
drove his mount towards the final fence, extending his lead with every
stride. Battle
Group flew the last and stormed down to the line to win by an amazing 16
lengths. Mac Aeda
won the extended battle with Johns Spirit for the runner-up position, and Problema Tic completed in 4th. Loch Ba finished
5th and Duke Of Lucca 6th.
It
was Battle Group’s second win at this Festival, having won a handicap hurdle
on Thursday when ridden by Brendan Powell (Junior). He’d also won an Aintree Festival handicap
hurdle in 2011 when ridden by late replacement Barry Geraghty
(intended jockey Tom Scudamore having dislocated
his shoulder when parting company with The Giant Bolster during the Mildmay Novices’ Chase earlier that day); and he’d been
placed 2nd in last year’s renewal of this same chase. Although a quirky horse, he obviously loves
Aintree! When
interviewed by RUK’s Tom O’Ryan, one of the five partnership
owners known as Jolly Boys Outing, explained that they had purchased the
horse in the car park at the Cheltenham Breeze Up sales; no-one else had wanted to buy the horse! NEWS FROM THE
STEWARDS’ ROOM FOLLOWING THE RACE: WHY THEY RAN BADLY That’s it for this section of the
diary ... |
