15:42 That’s in from Aintree on an afternoon where the weather had the greatest say and the sort of afternoon where it is best to ignore the form.

The only horse of note was Black Apalachi whose performance today suggests the National could be a spring target.

From a very wet and cold Aintree good afternoon.

15:39 I have to say watching the final stages of the finale was painful – it was like watching a race in slow motion in ground that has now become officially Heavy.

The result was an excellent one for the layers with the 25/1 winner being the shortest price of the four placed horses.

General Ledger set the pace until three out when he threw in the towel leaving Glenary and Manadam out in front.

The pair jumped the third last together but after that Glenary, under Tjade Collier had the greater stamina and although seemingly treading water kept on to win by eight lengths from Manadam who, in turn, finished 30 lengths ahead of Alfloramoor who was the nearest there was to a running-on horse.

15:12 Well the second race over the big fences was no less exciting than the first and it was run in atrocious conditions.

The finish will also be a contender for “What Happens Next?” However before that let’s look at the winner Black Apalachi.

Taking up the running at the Chair he was never headed and the further they ran the further he increased his lead, more impressive was his faultless jumping performance . He has been installed in the National betting with William Hill going a best priced 25/1, Stan James 20/1 and Blue Square and Paddy Power 16/1.

The original favourite (but a really bad drifter) and last years winner Mr Pointment made some early mistakes before running on to take second place, although he never challenged the winner.

Jumping the last way behind the leader he was, proverbially, miles in front of the remaining runners, however it was clear he was on empty.

On the run in he was so tired he virtually stopped. Then Oulart passed him and having someone to chase he started running again and managed to grab second place.  

Favourite Irish Raptor finished sixth.  

14: 27 Race four was one of those events that makes my blood boil and it makes a mockery of the sport.

The starter released the tape but none of the runners wanted to race and it was at least eight seconds before the first of the runners walked over the starting line.

Why do the jockeys do this – personally I think they should be fined.

Anyway enough of my gripes, once they did consent to race it was Auroras Encore who set the pace, if it could be called a pace.

Knockavilla kept the leader company.

To be honest there is nothing of note to mention about the first circuit as the field “progressed” at a hack canter.

As they turned out of the back straight the pace finally increased and as it did the field soon spread out.

Three out  the favourite Knocavilla had the advantage but the grey Serabad was looking fresh, having been settled  mid-division. Nevertika was also in with a chance, with the others all beaten.

Approaching the last Serabad was taken into the lead by Paddy Brennan and despite taking the top of the last flight out the gelding ran on well to win as he pleased.

The favourite by contrast was getting tired and Nevertika managed to grab the runners-up spot.
All in all not the best of heats and one in which the form should be taken with a cellar of salt.

13: 35 Well our first race on the National fences and what a race it proved to be.

The first incident came at the third fence, The Chair, where the second favourite Gwanako just did not take off and ended up in the ditch propelling Sam Thomas over the top of the fence. Luckily both walked away.

As expected the ground took its toll and only six finished the race.
Endless Power proved  to be most aptly named. Sent into the front by James Reveley by the time they approached Bechers Brook he was almost a fence in front.

The nearest he came to being challenged as they turned for home was by The Hollow Bottom who managed to get within 25 lengths.

Those of us who are old enough were thinking of Crisp way back in 1973.

As they crossed the Melling Road and rejoined the course proper the leader was almost legless, although his rivals were as well.

James Reveley nursed the Jim Goldie trained gelding over the final two fences and began the long run-in.

It was then more memories of Crisp came to mind as the nearer the line the slower and shorter Endless Power’s stride became and Brooklyn Brownie was closing with every stride.

Unlike in 1973 the line did come in time for the long time leader and he recorded a 2½ length victory with Iron Man finishing a further 10 lengths behind.
Jim Goldie’s comment after the race was “thank goodness it wasn’t Red Rum chasing him home.”

13:15 The jockeys are saying the going is verging on heavy and dead – no surprise really and the races on the National course could be a war of attrition.

Indeed this second race, a 3 mile 1 furlong chase on the Mildmay course turned into a stamina test and it was a runner with proven stamina, Bellaney Jewel, who took the spoils in  arace in which most of the runners made blunders.

The winner was settled in fourth place for most of the race with Go West, Essifer and  Something Silver sharing the lead each taking a share of the lead at some point.

Essifer spoiled his chance with a mistake at the 14th but did bravely run on in the latter stages to claim a brave fourth place.

The minor places both went to runners who had been held up.

Jimmy Bond took the runners up spot and approaching the last looked to be in a position to seriously challenge the eventual winner. However the bottom weights better stamina prevailed and Jimmy Bond went down by six lengths.

Julius Caesar was happy to hack around towards the rear in the early stages, before being bought through the field by Graham Lee. Finishing third the Sadlers Wells gelding was never a threat to the front two.

 Favourite Glingerebank unseated at the 8th and Master Sumerville’s chances were ruined by some very iffy jumping.

12:52 Another going change, it is now Soft.

12:40 I have long argued that jockeys, especially jump jockeys, earn their money – today they earn it more than ever as conditions here are terrible, with the first race starting in a hail storm and a wind so strong it blew away the umbrellas of the bookmakers.

A 2 mile hurdle got us under way and it saw My Moment, under Richard Johnson, come with a pillar to post victory, although Fairyland, the 13/8 favourite, made him work hard for his victory with the pair finishing 23 lengths ahead of the remaining runners.

Although Fairyland was running on approaching the second last the winner always looked to have something in hand and it was a good performance in the conditions.

Honest John vied for favouritism, tracking the leaders and led the main group home to take third place.

Drawback was to the fore until after three out when he faded quickly, eventually pulling up.

Mighty Moon did not seem at all happy in the conditions and was always behind before pulling up before three out and Ebert was soon tailed off.   

11:55 As expected we have a change of going it is now good to soft, soft in places on the Mildmay course and soft, good to soft in places on the National course

11:50 Good news the rain has stopped but it is still very chilly in the wind, although the mercury is saying it is six degrees.

11:10 Good morning from Aintree, where racing goes ahead after the snow did not materialise.

The going is Good to soft, good in places on the Mildmay course and Good to Soft on the National course.

It is currently raining and there is a possibility the going may change.

We currently have six non-runners.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

1:40
6 Palarshan (Ran yesterday)
9 Bill's Echo (Lame - SC)
10 Warpath (Colic - SC)

2:15
4 Mendo (Cut Leg - SC)
6 Sunday City (Lame - SC)

2:50
3 Always Waining (Lame - VC)
11 Out The Black (going)
13 Noir Et Vert (going)

3:25
8 Inchloch (going)

Results

12:30

1st 9 My Moment 12/1
2nd 11 Faityland 13/8 fav
3rd 7 Honest John 7/4
11Ran
Distances 1 1/2 & 23
Fav second
Tote
Win £14.90
Place £3.00 £1.30 £1.40
Exacta £43.90
CSF £32.87
Time

1:05

1st 13 Bellaney Jewel 8/1
2nd 5 Jimmy Bond 14/1
3rd 6 Julius Caesar 40/1
13 Ran
Distances 6 & 14
Fav 4 Glingerbank 5/1 (Unseated)
Tote
Win £9.60
Place £2.50 £4.10 £12.60
Exacta £114.00
CSF £114.94
Tricast £4,204.15
Time

1:40

1st 7 Endless Power 11/1
2nd 8 Brooklyn Brownie 7/1
3rd 5 Iron Man 11/1
13 Ran Nr's 6 , 9 & 10
Distances 2 1/2 & 10
Fav 11 The Hollow Bottom 10/3 (PU)
Tote
Win £12.80
Place £3.30 £2.40 £2.70
Exacta £88.00
CSF £82.76
Tricast £675.44
Time

2:15

1st 3 Serabad 9/2
2nd 9 Nevertika 11/2
3rd 12 Knockavilla 11/4 fav
9 Ran NR's 4 , 6 & 11
Distances 4 & 3 3/4
Fav third
Tote
Win £6.10
Place £2.40 £2.10 £1.60
Exacta £35.30
CSF £29.58
Tricast £79.82
Time

2:50

1st 7 Black Apalachi 15/1
2nd 2 Mr Pointment 13/2
3rd 9 Oulart 20/1
15 Ran NR 3
Distances distance & 1/2
Fav 8 Irish Raptor 9/2 (6th)
Tote
Win £8.60
Place £2.70 £3.00 £53.67
Exacta £66.00
CSF £53.67
Tricast £946.37
Time

3:25

1st 17 Glenary 25/1
2nd 3 Manadam 33/1
3rd 13 Alfloramoor 66/1
4th 7 Of Course 50/1
16 Ran NR 8
Distances 8 , 30 & 16
Fav 9 Major Miller 5/2 (Upl)
Tote
Win £37.90
Place £6.40 £6.80 £10.90 £7.40
Exacta £1,049.00
CSF £638.69
Tricast £41,443.73
Time