Aintree 2008 Live - Friday

 

5:44 Well that's it for day two. Tomorrow is the big one - starting with the People's race before racing and culminating in the 161st Grand National.

See you tomorrow.

5:42 For the second day running the final race goes to an outsider with Carole's Legacy, trained by Nicky Henderson giving Andrew Tinkler a nice 541/1 double.

5:30	John Smith's Mares Only Standard National Hunt Flat Race
1st	16 Carole's Legacy			25/1
2nd	17 Divali Princess			40/1
3rd	10 Call Me A legend			13/2
Tote	Win	£33.30
	Places	£7.80	£16.00	£3.00
	Exacta	£827.50	CSF	£800.64
Distances	1/2l 1 3/4l
20 Ran

5:17 Just one race remaining here on ladies day and aptly it is the fillies bumper

5:05 Perennial front runner Kings Euro set a good pace and the complexion of the race changed when the favourite Mister Top Notch fell at the sixth.

Down the back straight for the second time Oedipie challenged Kings Euro and never looked to be in any subsequent danger.

One punter will be happy as they has a single winning jackpot ticket on the winner to collect a cool £700k.

Mick Fitzgerald will not be happy though as he was due to ride Oedipie but had to stand down after taking a heavy fall in the Topham, giving Andrew Tinkler a winning spare ride. 

4:55	totepool Handicap Chase
1st	14 Oedipie			20/1
2nd	15 Three Mirrors			25/1
3rd	5 Alderburn			17/2
4th	6 Rayshan			20/1
Tote	Win	£26.40
	Places	£4.90	£8.90	£2.30	£4.70
	Exacta	£564.60	CSF	£425.01
Distances	3 3/4l, 21l
17 Ran	NR 8 Ardaghey

 

4:28 This is becoming somewhat predictable another Nicholls / Walsh victory.

To say Pierrot Lunaire destroyed the field would be an understatement, he won as he pleased by 14 lengths from Blue Bajan.

Outsider Lazy Darren took the final place.

The favourite Captain Cee Bee was obviously feeling the effects of Cheltenham and ran no sort of race, eventually being pulled up.

Alan King's Greenbridge looked to have a chance until a mistake three out knocked the wind out of his sails.

4:20	Littlewoods Direct Imagine Appeal Top Novices' Hurdle
1st	14 Pierrot Lunaire			5/1
2nd	7 Blue Bajan			7/1
3rd	13 Lazy Darren			50/1
Tote	Win	£6.10
	Places	£2.00	£2.30	£5.20
	Exacta	£51.00	CSF	£37.68
Distances	14l, 6l
14 Ran

 

3:55 Well I though we were up for the forecast but had to settle for first and third.

Gwanako was running over hurdles at the beginning of the season, today he had a brave win over the big fences. Not the biggest of horses he battled on bravely from the late challenge of Irish Raptor.

Course love Bothar Na was a plucky third with the outsider I Hear Thunder taking fourth place.

Run at a cracking pace there were many fallers, including a four horse pile up at Bechers.

3:45	John Smith's Topham Chase
1st	4 Gwanako			7/1
2nd	17 Irish Raptor			12/1
3rd	19 Bothar Na			12/1
4th	29 I Hear Thunder			40/1
Tote	Win	£8.30
	Places	£2.50	£2.80	£3.10	£15.20
	Exacta	£116.60	CSF	£78.29
Distances	nk, 5l, 11l
29 Ran	NR 26 Randwick Roar

 

3:41 More money now for Pak Jack into 13/2

3:38 Money still coming in for Gwanako now 15/2

3:37 A few bob on the outsider You're Special 33's from 40's

3:33 Pak Jack is the favourite for the Topham at 15/2 with Gwanako at 8/1 (from 17/2). Kenzo III is the only other runner in single figures at 9/1.

3:32 Alan King has just mentioned the King George at Kempton as a possible target for Voy Por Ustedes. Bring it on.

3:27 Jockey Ruby Walsh has confirmed my opinion that Master Minded did not get the extra half mile.

Ready for the big fences next!!!

3:17 Revenge is sweet, after twice being beaten by Master Minded this season Voy por Ustedes handled the step up to 2.5 miles with consumate ease to record an 18 length victory.

My initial view is that Master Minded, once again, did not get the extra half mile but he is only five.

Tamarinbleu set the pace, as is his wont, but was overtaken three out as Voy Por Ustedes and Master Minded battled it out.

3:10	John Smith's Melling Chase
1st	6 Voy Por Ustedes			5/1
2nd	1 Master Minded			2/5
Tote	Win	£5.70
	Places	£1.90	£1.10
	Exacta	£8.60	CSF	£8.06
Distances	18l
6 Ran	NR 3 Monet's Garden

3:05 They are about to parade with Mike Cattamole having the call. Master Minded has "drifted" to 2/5. Some ligt nibbles in the betting for Tamarinbleu 7/1 from 8/1 and shock Cheltenham winner Mister McGoldrick  14/1 from 16/1

2:57 Master Minded opens at 4/11

2:45 Well it didn't take Paddy Brennan and Nigel Twistan-Davies long to avenge Battlecry's defeat in the first.

In a dour battle to the line Pettifour managed to get the better of Gone To Lunch under an enterprising Tony McCoy ride. Significantly Gone To Lunch seemed to drift and that may have cost him the race.

The first two were always to the fore thoroghout the race.

The hot favourite was never in the race and when the pace did pick up found nothing.

The Tother One was happy to lay up before launching a late run but was never any danger to to the main protaganists.

Menuphar Collonges was disappointing. The interesting runner was Le Vecchia Sculoa, plum last for most of the race the filly was running on well at the end to finish a never nearer 5th.

2:35	Citroen C5 Sefton Novices' Hurdle
1st	6 Pettifour			16/1
2nd	2 Gone To Lunch			8/1
3rd	3 The Tother One			4/1
Tote	Win	£20.40
	Places	£4.40	£2.10	£1.80
	Exacta	£174.50	CSF	£129.11
Distances	nk, 5l
13 Ran

2:32 Going down - Richard Hoiles is calling them down to the start. The fav is now 13/8

2:26 Some money for the jolly now into 7/4 also some money for Souffleur 6/1 from 13/2.

The Tother One is sweating in the parade ring

2:24 The opening show for the second has Tazbar the favourite trading at 15/8

2:10 The well backed Big Buck's took the spoils in the first in a race where Battlecry attempted to make all.

Rugy Walsh was happy to ride a patient waiting race on the well backed second favourite, happy to sit in about 6th place. After the second last he mounted a challenge, coinciding with Battlecry making a Katoesque blunder, and leapt into the lead at the last.

The favourite, Albertas Run, was clearly feeling the effects of Cheltenham to finish a disappointing third.

Cedrus Libani ruined any chance with several jumping mistakes and pilot Denis O'Regan picks up a one day ban for whip use. Joe Lively ran a dominant race but tired towards the end to take fourth.

 

1:56 They are going down and Big Buck's is being backed into 3/1

1:52 Albertas Run is trading at around 6/4 with Big Buck's the second fav

1:38 The first runners are in the parade ring, although you can't get that close to see them.

1:30 Only half an hour to the first, the crowds are here, certainly a great deal busier than yesterday.

12:35 Another non-runner, this time in the 3:45 where Randwick Roar will not face the big obstacles.

Forgot to mention that Ardaghey is a non-runner this afternoon because he is now in the big one tomorrow.

The course is filling up fast with all the Liverpool lasses in their finery - concentrating on the racing could be difficult!!!

11:37 Going news - the Mildmay course is good with a couple of good to soft patches, whilst the National course is mainly Good to Soft with some good patches.

11:00 Day two calls with some cloud in the sky but it is Ladies Day today so some sights to behold. Almost a sell out with only a few Tattersalls tickets remaining.

Incidentally tomorrow is already a virtual sell out with only some Steeplechase Enclosure tickets remaining.

The racing today does not look to be as high class as yesterdays. Not unexpectedly Monet's garden is a non-runner in the big chase this afternoon.

 

 

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