William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

THE story of the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle was as much about Constitution Hill falling for the second race in succession as it was about the result. However, Paul Townend again showed his maturity by extricating Lossiemouth from a pocket early in the straight and leaving Constitution Hill and Nico de Boinville in that precarious position before the complexion of the race changed dramatically at the penultimate flight.

Well supported into 5/4, Lossiemouth was left with just Wodhooh as a serious challenger after the favourite’s departure, and she stayed on strongly to beat the Martin Pipe winner by two and three-quarter lengths, with Take No Chances (Dan/Harry Skelton), third to Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, filling the same spot again.

“I was disappointed that Constitution Hill fell,” was the initial reaction from Willie Mullins. “I’m disappointed for Michael, Nicky, and Nico, and disappointed for racing as well. We came here with our mare in good shape, and we thought the trip would suit us on the day. We never got to find out, really.

“Nico has a great habit of looking under pressure and then finding a bit in the last furlong, so oftentimes you think you have Nico beaten and he has a little bit up his sleeve. I wondered at the time, had Paul played the card too early? But it was gifted to him and what can you do?”

EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

IMPAIRE Et Passe (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend) kicked off a fabulous day for trainer and jockey when landing the Group 1 EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree on Thursday.

Last year’s Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle winner showed his liking for the track with a polished performance to beat Gidleigh Park (Harry Fry/Jonathan Burke) and favourite Jango Baie (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) by a length and a quarter and a short-head respectively.

The winner was returned at 9/4 and seemed to appreciate the fitting of cheekpieces as he comprehensively reversed Dublin Racing Festival form with the disappointing Croke Park, travelling and jumping with much more fluency than he had then.

Winning jockey Paul Townend said: “His jumping was really, really good. Even when I won on him earlier this season [at Fairyhouse on chase debut back in November] he jumped brilliantly. He hit a flat spot that day, but he came alive and showed the spark out there today that he did as a novice hurdler.

“I was in front sooner than I wanted to be, but the last fence is a lot closer to the line here. The cheekpieces seem to be working well.”

Boodles Anniversary 4-y-o Hurdle (Grade 1)

IT wasn’t a strong race for the level, but the Grade 1 Anniversary 4YO Hurdle provided another winner for Mullins and Townend as Murcia reversed Fred Winter form with Puturhandstogether (Joseph O’Brien/Mark Walsh) on much better terms. The Doctor Dino filly was conceding 6lb to the winner when a respectable eighth in the Fred Winter but was 13lb better off with the mares’ allowance in this contest and made that count, albeit almost certainly improving on her earlier efforts to come clear by six lengths.

She was chased home by the lightly-raced Live Conti (Dan/Harry Skelton) with Puturhandstogether a further length and a quarter back in third. The winner was underestimated in the early market for this race, being available at 10/1 generally, but was supported into 11/4 at the off.

Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl (Grade 1)

GAELIC Warrior (Willie/Patrick Mullins) hadn’t been at his best at around two miles this season, but he returned to form with a bang when winning the Grade 1 Bowl over an extended three miles, finding it much easier to find his rhythm than had been the case in the Dublin Chase on his previous start.

Last year’s Arkle hero was sent off at odds of 11/4 with Paul Townend preferring Embassy Gardens, who pulled up lame early in the race.

The pace was a solid one set by Stage Star from The Real Whacker and Mullins was in no hurry to move Gaelic Warrior up from the rear; he travelled notably well, however, and picked his rivals off one by one in the long straight, with only favourite Grey Dawning (Dan/Harry Skelton) ahead as the pair raced to the last fence.

A more fluent jump by Gaelic Warrior was enough to gain him the upper hand, and he passed the post three lengths to the good. Stage Star (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) only weakened between the last two fences, and held on to third, 13 lengths behind the winner.

Rest of the Card

THE Foxhunters’ was the first race to be run over the National fences this week, and the number of casualties was low, with just two fallers and two unseating in a 29-runner race won by 22/1 Gracchus de Balme (Joe O’Shea/Huw Edwards) who was bought cheaply by O’Shea from the Joseph O’Brien stable.

Sans Bruit (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) made all in the Red Rum Chase last year under Bryony Frost, jumping his rivals ragged, and he repeated that feat 12 months later in remarkably similar style, leading from the first and barely putting a foot wrong as he scored at 5/1 to leave this season’s previous form well behind.

Paddy Twomey doesn’t have many for the winter game and I doubt whether Seo Linn (Billy Lee) will be asked to jump a hurdle, but the daughter of Order Of St George has plenty of gears and won the Grade 2 Nickel Coin Mares’ Bumper despite racing freely in the early stages.

The 15/8 favourite may well be seen next on the flat, being a rather sparely-made mare who has a useful blend of speed and stamina and will have blacktype opportunities through the summer.