07:06 After 2.5mm of overnight rain the, somewhat complex, going report is:-

Mildmay (chase) Course: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Hurdle Course: Soft, Good to Soft in Places
National Course: Soft, Good to Soft in Places

All hurdles are on the outside and bends moved out. Hurdle bends on widest line, adding 95 yards per circuit

10:57 Good morning from Aintree where it is raining and blustery.

We currently have one non-runner.

11:09 Going change on the National Course now Soft, Heavy in Places by Canal Turn.

Soft on the Mildmay and Hurdle courses.

11:26 I have just ventured outside and it is very chilly, although the rain has stopped and there is even some blue sky - very breezy though, right to left as they come down home straight.

It isn't exactly busy here today.

11:48 Our opening contest is the Jaguar Northern Dealers Maiden Hurdle with nine off to post for the 2m 1f Contest.

12:15 On the evidence of the opener the chases will be a war of attrition as they ran the first race 49 seconds slower than standard.

By two out it was a battle between the top two in the betting Cinders And Ashes and Keys. They were close together but on the run-in Cinders And Ashes pulled away to record a nine length victory.

Ile De Re, who had been with the pace keeping the front running Manahej, came home third some 22 lengths in arrears.

The first two had tracked the leading group before mounting their challenges turning for home, by which point we had a three horse race.

The rest of the field came home out with the washing with High Office finishing best of the rest.

12:22 Race two is the first of a pair of 2½ mile hurdles, this one being the Betfred Goals Galore Handicap Hurdle, which sees eleven off to post.

12:44 At least the second contest was run at a better pace, although the winning time was still 38.9" slower than standard.

One runner who did not like the soft ground was the favourite Wyse Hill Teabag who was struggling by the time they went out on the final circuit and he finally waved the white flag three out.

Spirit Of Adjisa set the pace but paid the price as he ran out of steam on the turn for home.

Palace Jester and Featherbed Lane were with the pace throughout and were still to the fore as they turned for home and they were joined by Rainbow Dippin who had made steady progress to make it a three way go.

Coming to the last it was a two way go as Palace Jester was one paced.

The race was decided at the last as Featherbed Lane put in a good jump and Rainbow Dippin blundered over the flight, allowing Featherbed Lane to record a 14 length victory.

 Rainbow Dippin was unchallenged for second as Palace Jester came home third, a further 20 lengths behind.

Dontpaytheferryman was running on well but far too late to take fourth place.  

12:53 Covering racing here at Aintree is better than joining a gym. It's a long walk from the media centre to the stands then a very big staircase to the roof of the County Stand to view the racing. My legs are already aching and we still have five races to go.

13:05 Race three is the Betfred1350 Shops Nationwide Novices' Handicap Hurdle with 13 off to post.

High Hoylander was getting edgy in the parade ring.

13:20 Another ugly slog in the mud as, yet again, the runners come home strung out like Monday's washing.

It was a good result for the punters though as the 5/1 favourite Native Gallery came home the 4½ length winner having battled with Red Rocco until pulling clear on the run-in.

Red Rocco had set the early pace but looked to have capitulated, ceding the advantage to High Hoylander.

High Hoylander was still leading as they turned for home, as Native Gallery mounted his challenge.

High Hoylander soon faded but Red Rocco found a second wind to make a race of it.

High Hoylander took third 23 lengths further back.

13:25 The going is now Heavy on all tracks

13:32  Unusually the bumper is in the middle of this afternoons card, as nine are off to post for the Betfred Free Machine Play Mares Standard Open NH Flat Race, a 2m 1f contest.

13:41 Another strung out finish as Russie With Love takes the bumper, grinding out her rivals to record a 3½ length victory over Bonnie Burnett who looked as though she was going to take the spoils.

Sands Of Vatersay who spent most of the race in second spot, tired in the closing stages to come home third, nine lengths behind the runner-up.

Favourite Beattie Green was close enough if good enough as they turned for for home but was treading water in the closing stages to finish fourth.

Mini The Minx set the pace before paying the price as they turned for home, eventually finishing sixth, headed by Fenny Mill as thye came home. 

13:58  Our feature contest and the first over the National fences is the 3m 2f Betfred Becher Handicap Chase with 14 off to post.

14:25 When West End Rocker was on his nose at the first fence few would have thought some seven minutes later he would be crossing the finishing line 22 lengths clear of his rivals to take the Becher Chase.

Last years winner Hello Bud and Nicto De Beauchene set the pace on the heavy going which proved to be too much for Max Bygraves who pulled up before the water.

The two front runners had a healthy lead as they came to the Canal Turn where Hello Bud managed to unseat Sam Twiston-Davies, leaving Nicto De Beauchene clear in front.

West End Rocker, Rare Bob and Niche Market, along with Always Waining had Nicto De Beauchene in their sights and West End Rocker took up the running three out as Nicto De Beauchene's fuel tank showed empty.

Niche Market was nearest to the leader but never looked like striking and although second he was well beaten.

It looked as though Always Waining was going to take third spot but a late charge from Ballyvesey sprouted wings to grab third spot a further 32 lengths behind the runner-up, with Always Waining coming home fourth.    

The winner is now quoted at 20/1 for the Grand National

14:33 Annoyingly I lugged my heavy camera all the way to Aintree and forgot to bring a USB cable with me so I cannot upload the photo's . . . I will have to load them later on.

14:34 Only four off to post for our next contest, the Betfred Goals Galore Bonus Chase, a listed contest over 3m 1f.

14:58 It has to be said the racing here this afternoon is not pretty in the prevailing conditions.

Indian Pipe Dream was pulled up after one circuit and it has to be asked why Lee Edwards did not pull him up sooner, the horse was clearly exhausted yet he continued.

Nacarat set the pace with Master Of The Hall tracking him all the way. Turning for home even though Nacarat had the lead the result was in little doubt, barring jumping errors, as Master Of The Hall looked fresher.

As so he hit the front approaching two out and he pulled clear to record a 16 length victory.

Tamarinbleu was a tailed off third but a combination of a rally and Nacarat tiring saw him claim second spot.

15:12 Our second contest is our second race over the National fences, the Betfred Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the extended 2m 5f, with 14 off to the start.

Shane Byrne (3) now rides Pilgrims Lane.

15:38 We had to wait for the final race for the finish of the day and what a finish it was as Stewarts House and Linnel battled all the way to the line with Stewarts House claiming a neck victory.

Linnel had been heavily backed into favouritism and there is a what if surrounding the result as Linnel was asked for a stride coming to the last and he lost some momentum as a result.

The front two finished well clear of Buffalo Bob who was 32 lengths further behind.

Frankie Figg and Santa's Sun set the pace, with Stewarts House tracking.

Stewarts House hit the front three out but his advantage was narrow as Linnel ran on to mount his challenge.

Santa's Son came home fourth.

16:03  Aiden Coleman still with the Stewards after his ride on Stewarts House - we make it ten hits, so he is looking at a ban.

16:12 Aiden Coleman was deemed to hit the horse eleven times and he picked up a seven day ban and he loses his prize money. The ban means he will miss Boxing Day. 

16:14 That's it from a blustery Aintree where the racing was in very testing ground. I have a couple of hours to kill before my train leaves Wigan for Milton Keynes so I think a curry is called for.

From a very blustery, wet and cold Aintree a very good afternoon.

 Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

12:00
8 Victor Echo (Ringworm - VC 10:33)

14:10
1 Mad Max (lame - VC 11:43)

Results

12:00 Maiden Hurdle 2m 1f

12:35 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

13:05 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

13:35 Open NH Flat 2m 1f

14:10 Handicap Chase (National Course) 3m 2f

14:45 Chase 2m 1f

15:20 Handicap Chase (National Course) 2m 5f