17:50 That's it from day one of Aintree, once again apologies for the less than perfect service on offer this afternoon.

We may be back here tomorrow, alternatively we may cover Bath instead.

17:39 Our final race of the afternoon the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle, over 2m 4f saw Sunnyhill Boy come home four lengths clear of his field, having been held up in the early stages before running on three out.

Prince Taime tried to challenge two out but was one paced and the same can be said of the third Bedlam Boy.

Both the joint favourites, Hernando Royal and Big Eared Fran were disappointing – both settled mid-division but one paced and never able to launch serious challenges.

17:07 Some tragic news has come through following the Totesport Bowl run earlier this afternoon and apologies for not bringing it to you sooner – one of the drawbacks of the limited media accreditation.

Exotic Dancer, runner-up in the race, sadly suffered a heart attack and died back in the stables half an hour after the race.

Exotic Dancer was one of the most consistent chasers of t his generation, won eight of his 29 career starts, including the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown earlier this season. It is just unfortunate he was around the same time as Kauto Star and Denman otherwise he would possibly have been a multiple Gold Cup winner.

He was placed in two Cheltenham Gold Cups, having finished third to Kauto Star last month.

His trainer Jonjo O'Neill said, "Half an hour after the race he was just walking along in the stables when he just lay down and that was it.

"He was very tired coming back in off the track.

"I said after the race he looked like he had run his heart out, and he looked really tired.

"We took the saddle off him and he went back to the stables and was OK.

"We were leading him round and Hannah, who looks after him, felt he wasn't right so we took him down to the vets, where he laid down and that was it - there was nothing we could do.

"He was a great old horse and you need those sort of horses in the yard.

"Winning the Lexus Chase at Christmas was my favourite day with him.

"He'd be the best chaser I have trained."

17:03 Our sixth contest was the inaugural running of the 2m 4f Novices Chase. Our smallest field of the day as eight went to post.

Chapoturgeon was sent off the 2/1 favourite but went no further than the first fence.

Deep Purple set the pace pursued by the second favourite Planet Of Sound and these two held the advantage until they began the turn for home, at which point Deep Purple dropped back.

Planet Of Sound did not have the lead for long, however, as he was joined by Tartak who then jumped into the lead three out.

Planet Of Sound tried to respond but was unable to come back to the leader, indeed it was Deep Purple who showed the best lat pace to run on into second pace.

Meanwhile Tartak had an unopposed lead at the last and he came home the seven length winner.

16:33 It was back to the Mildmay course for our fifth race and the race named after Aintree’s greatest hero – Red Rum.

It turned out to be a tidy little contest in the end with seventeen going to post.

Lord Jay Jay set off in front but by the time they passed the post at the start of the final circuit the strong pulling Marodima had taken the lead. A position he held until making a mistake at the 9th  

This left Lord Jay Jay back in front but the challengers were coming from behind. Most notably Cheltenham winner Oh Crick. Co-favourite Leslingtaylor who had been settled almost last throughout also produced a run but it came too late.

At the final fence Oh Crick out jumped Lord Jay Jay and although Venetia Williams horse tried to respond Oh Crick had enough in hand to record a one length victory.

16:04 The Foxhunters was the first race of the week over the large Aintree obstacles, which is the amateurs Grand National.

Irish raiderAgus a Viic was sent off favourite but put in an abysmal performance.

Mel In Blue and Stron Weld set a good pace and by Beechers they had a good lead. Unfortunately the race ended for Mel In Blue at that point as he pitched on landing.

Although spread out half way there were several in contention as they crossed the Melling Road and rejoined the racecourse proper.

Trust Fund had made excellent progress under Tom Greenall and had the lead approaching the last. Last years winner Christy Beamish was in second place and made Trust Fund fight but Greenall came home 4 lengths in front of last years winner.

15:30 The totesport Bowl was our feature race of the afternoon but it ended up being a race that left you with an awful knot in the pit of your stomach as Denman was taken away in a horse ambulance. He fell at the second last, was quickly on his feet but then went on to jump the last where he seemed to injure his off fore – fingers crossed.

He was in contention, having  a dour battle with Madison Du Berlais and they were neck and neck when last years Gold Cup hero fell.

This left Madison Du Berlais with a clear lead and although Exotic Dancer was closing with every stride in the final stages he held on by 4½ lengths.

14:50 Alan Kings Walkon was unlucky to have crossed swords with Zaynar at Cheltenham. Today he was not facing any rivals of that calibre and he duly won the Matalan Novices’ Hurdle by a comfortable 13 lengths.

Silk Drum set the pace in this 2m 1/2 f contest, whilst Robert Thornton was happy to settle Walkon oin third or fourth place.

It was all change as they began the turn for home as Seamus Durack bought Ski Sunday through with a positive run to take up the running but as he took the lead Walkon was tracking his every move.

Two out Ski Sunday made a slight mistake and Walkon took up the running. Starluck began to make eye catching progress but was unable to make any inroads on the front pair.

As they approached the last Walkon had the lead and put in a perfect leap, running clear on the run-in to record a 13 length victory.

14:18 Our opening contest was the 3m 1f Liverpool Aintree Hurdle, which saw several of the World Hurdle contenders re-appearing.

As is his wont Lough Derg set the pace, although it has to be said he was not allowed to dominate the way he likes to and by the time the field reached the end of the far straight for the final time he was in reverse.

This handed the lead to Mighty Man, who had been tracking the leader along with Pettifour.
Mighty Man, under Russell Johnson had a good lead turning for home and he was being tracked by Fair Along. However Ruby Walsh on the odds-on favourite Big Buck’s had played a waiting game and was making steady progress.

As they turned for home the favourite was in third and travelling sweetly.

By the second last it was a two horse race with Mighty Man still in front but you knew his time in fron was limited. Any lingering doubts were dispelled at the final flight, at which Mighty Man was less than fluent whilst Big Buck’s spring heeled it to take up the running and he came home a 3¼ length victor.

13:10 Good afternoon from Aintree where the weather forecaster needs to be shot – we were promised blue skies, instead we have grey cloud, although it is warm.

We currently have two non-runners, details on the right.

Unfortunately we have only been granted “limited” media access to the meeting and access is exactly that – limited and, not putting too fine a point on things, totally unsatisfactory working conditions. As a result the “live” updates may be sporadic. If not possible to provide full live updates then a full review of the days racing will be added after racing this afternoon.

We will see what we can do.

09:51 Here are this afternoon's selections.

2:00 1 Big Bucks
2:35 13 Walkon
3:10 1 Denman
3:45 9 Distant Thunder
4:20 3 Moon Over Miami
4:55 7 Planet Of Sound
5:30 5 Big Eared Fran

07:42 It has been dry overnight and a dry day is forecast with temperatures set to reach 17 degrees.

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

At this early stage we have no non-runners.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

3:45
7 City Affair (colic - SC)

4:20
15 Kilmackilloge (lame - VC)

Results

2:00 Hurdle 3m 110yds
1st 1 Big Buck's 5/6fav
2nd 9 Mighty Man 9/2
3rd 5 Fair Along 10/1
10 Ran
Distances 3 1/4 & 10
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.80
Places £1.20 £1.60 £2.40
Exacta £4.30
CSF £4.33
Time 6' 12.8"

2:35 Novices' Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 13 Walkon 2/1 fav
2nd 9 Ski Sunday 12/1
3rd 10 Starluck 5/2
13 Ran
Distances 13 & 13
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.20
Places £1.40 £2.10 £1.40
Exacta £30.90
CSF £24.62
Time 4' 01.9"

3:10 Chase 3m 1f

1st 3 Madison Du Berlais 12/1
2nd 2 Exotic Dancer 7/2
3rd 9 Albertas Run 11/1
10 Ran
Distance 4 1/2 & 17
Fav ! Denman evs (Fell)
Tote
Win £14.90
Places £2.90 £1.50 £2.80
Exacta £65.30
CSF £53.76
Time 6' 25.6"

3:45 Hunters' Chase 2m 5f 110yds

1st 27 Trust Fund 13/2
2nd 6 Christy Beamish 12/1
3rd 11 Having A Cut 16/1
30 Ran
Distances 4 & 3 3/4
Fav 1 Agus A Vic 7/2
Tote
Win £7.90
Places £3.10 £4.00 £5.80
Exacta £65.40
CSF £68.30
Time5' 29.4"

4:20 Handicap Chase 2m

1st 7 Oh Crick 7/1 cf
2nd 17 Lord Jay Jay 14/1
3rd 13 Tramantano 16/1
4th 8 Leslingtaylor 7/1 cf
17 Ran NR 15
Distances 1 & 1 1/2
Fav's first & fourth
Tote
Win £7.80
Places £2.40 £6.50 £3.60 £2.20
Exacta £411.60
CSF £262.57
Tricast £4,262.99
Time 3' 57.85

4:55 Novices' Chase 2m 4f

1st 8 Tartak 11/2
2nd 3 Deep Purple 16/1
3rd 7 Planet Of Sound 100/30
8 Ran
Distances 7 & 7
Fav 2 Chapoturgeon 2/1 (Fell)
Tote
Win £6.90
Places £2.10 £1.90 £1.60
Exacta £69.20
CSF £75.24
Time 5' 03.9"

5:30 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 9 Sunnyhill Boy 8/1
2nd 6 Prince Taime 14/1
3rd 10 Bedlam Boy 28/1
4th 19 Carrickboy 40/1
22 Ran
Distances 4, 1 & 5
Fav's 5 & 22 7/1 (both upl)
Tote
Win £8.60
Places £2.20 £3.40 £6.30 £8.20
Exacta £110.50
CSF £105.20
Tricast £3,044.15
Time 4' 56.8"