18:10 Well that's it from the Aintree Festival for 2009 - some good racing, certainly some shocks but some quality winers. It wasn't all good we lost some horses, most notably Exotic Dancer on the opening day

17:55 There will be partying in Liverpool tonight, however it will not be the punters but the bookmakers who will be buying the champagne as the final race of the John Smith’s Grand National festival went to another 66/1 shot as Sitting Tennant beat the favourite Lidar in yet another thrilling finish.

Saverio set the pace but Sitting Tennant was keen to keep track of the leader. And this pair held the advantage until the home straight.

Two furlongs out Saverio had run his race leaving Sitting Tennant in front, however the challengers were lining up. Cranky Corner looked a likely challenger but that soon fizzled out.

In the end it was the favourite who emerged as the challenger, even more so as the tiring Sitting Tennant started to hang to the right, ending up on the stand rail.

17:22 Well so far this afternoon we have had false starts, some tight finishes and a long priced winner.

The 5:00 contest, a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle had all three.

A false start and then Doubly Guest, not for the first time, planted himself at the start.

Tartan Snow set the pace, tracked by Issaquah and Alsadaa.

These three were to the fore until they turned for home. The same cannot be said for the favourite Seven Is My Number who was never a threat, never being better than mid-division.

Tartan Snow was the first to drop out of contention, leaving Alsadaa and Issaquah in front but with Culcabock running on from the pack along with Hot Diamond.

At the second last Issaquah was in front with Hot Diamond the challenger and Joe Jo Star running on into third.

16:48 Well what a turn up in the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National as Mon Mome came home the 100/1 winner.

Trained by Venetia Williams, who becomes the second woman to train a Grand National winner and ridden by Liam Treadwell, who was having his first ride in the big race.

Settled well back in the field on the first circuit Treadwell bought his mount into contention as they crossed the Melling Road for the final time.

As they rejoined the racecourse proper any one of fifteen were in with a chance. Offshore Account was to the fore, having taken up the running at Beechers second time around, as was the well backed second favourite My Will who had every chance as they jumped the second last. Also in contention was last years winner Comply Or Die. State of Play was also in with every chance.

On the long run-in Mon Mome was well ahead of his rivals and he never looked to be in any danger. The major battle was for second place when Comply Or Die held off a resurgent My Will.

State Of Play took fourth and for those betting with the bookmakers who pay on the first five, another 100/1 shot Cerium took fifth.

My Will made several jumping errors and with a clear round who knows what may have happened?
Black Apalachi set the pace in the contest and was still in the lead when just over pitching at Beechers the second time around, giving Denis O’Regan no chance of keeping the partnership in tact – a great pity as he was looking good until that point. Silver Birch and Parsons Legacy also came down at the same fence.

Butler’s Cabin, Tony McCoy’s mount and favourite, was well placed and in with every chance until blundering at the 26th effectively ending any chance he may have had. He came home 7th.

Of the other fancied runners Rambling Minster was pulled up at the 20th.

There were visions of 1993 at the start of the race as we had two false starts, however it was a case of third time lucky.         

Seventeen runners completed the race.

There was a shadow cast over the race when Hear The Echo suffered a heart attack and died on the run-in.

15:48 The 3m 1f John Smiths’ Handicap Chase turned out to be a real war of attrition. Seventeen set off but only five finished as the field set off at a blistering pace.

Island Flyer set off in front but was passed at the second by Oakfield Legend under Rhys Flint.

Also at the second we saw our first departure as Amigayle unseated Colin Bolger.

Oakfield Legend was followed by Peter Pole and Island Flyer.

The blistering pace took its toll and at virtually every fence on the final circuit there was a horse there was a horse pullingup.

Up front though Oakfield Legend still had the lead, although Peter Pole had reduced the gap.

Leading Contender had also made progress and Don’t Push It under AP McCoy was also making relentless progress.

Four out these four were all prominent and all of them, apart from Leading Contender made a mistake at the fence – the most dramatic being Peter Pole who gave Richard Johnson no chance of retaining the partnership.

Three out Oakfield Legend still had the advantage but if Flint looked over his shoulder he would have seen the champ looming.

Two out Oakfield Legend still had the lead but Don’t Push It was looking smooth as was Leading Contender back in third.

Approaching the last Oakfield Legend started to show the first signs of running out of steam and McCoy soon had Don’t Push It in front.

On the run-in there was only going to be one winner. Oakfield Legend was now running on empty and Leading Contender swept past to take the runners-up spot.

15:10 Another exciting finish in the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle over 2m 4f.

Hills Of Aran who was outclassed in the opening contest of this meeting on Thursday made a quick reappearance and set the pace in this high quality contest.

Old timer Hardy Eustace kept him company in front with course specialist Al Eile and the favourite Celestial Halo tracking the front pair.

This was pretty much the order up front for most of the contest.

As they turned for home Hills Of Aran was in reverse, whilst Al Eile had run on to take up the running but was quickly joined in front by United.

A couple more were making progress most notably Solwith and Fiveforthree.

United and Al Eile jumped the second last together but Solwit and Fiveforthree were closing with every step and as they came to the last this pair were in front.

Locked together on the run in it was Solwith who had the greatest energy reserves to come home the half length victor. Fiveforthree was a gallant runner-up, with United putting in a very good performance to take third.

14:40 Jockey Graham Lee took a crashing fall earlier this week at Wetherby and had to pass the doctor this morning. His first ride at the meeting ended up a winning one as Kalahari King took the Maghull Novices’ chase in convincing style.

There was a delay to the start when Tony McCoy’s mount, Song Of Songs, lost a shoe and had to be re-shod. There was a further delay when Doctor David refused to join the others and was withdrawn by the starter.

Made In Taipan set the pace but the favourite Tatenen kept the leader in his sights. Cornas settled in third, tracked by Kalahari King with Song Of Songs next and Premier Dane the whipper in.

By the end of the back straight Made In Taipan and Tatenen were neck and neck and McCoy was making progress on Song Of Songs but seemed to clip heels with Kalahari King who was then in third place.

Made In Taipan made a slight mistake four out, as did Song Of Songs. This left Tatenen in front but Kalahari King was closing.

Two out it was a two horse race with Tatenen and Kalahari King jumping the fence together and Song Of Songs made one mistake too many and fell.

At the last Kalahari King had a clear lead, Tatenen was a clear second but looking tires and Made In Taipan seemed to get a second wind.

14:12 Well a cracking start to this afternoons proper racing as Bouggler and Copper Bleu battled all the way to the line in the John Smith’s Novices’ Hurdle over 2m 4f.

What A buzz set the pace along with Door Boy and the favourite Cape Tribulation tracking the front pair along with Bouggler.

As they turned for home Door Boy and Cape Tribulation were leading but firstly Michael Flips then Ainama as well as Bouggler who had been prominent throughout.

Three out Bouggler had his head in front but the others were with him, as long as the running on Trenchant.

Two out there were five in with a chance two out Bouggler was just in front with Cape Tribulation, Copper Bleu, Ainama and Trenchant the only ones who could win.

Cape Tribulation was the first to crack and Ainama was running on well to just lead coming to the last. Bouggler and Copper Bleu were with him and Trenchant a couple of lengths back.

On the run-in next to crack was Ainama and Trenchant was unable to gain any more ground on his rivals.

Bouggler and Copper Bleu were neck and neck coming to the line and it was nip and tuck with Bouggler getting his neck in front as they passed the line.

Ainama was 1½ lengths back in third.

Winning jockey Noel Fehily said: "It was like slow motion up the run-in, I didn't think we were going to get there.

"It was very, very close. Richard's (Johnson, on Copper Bleu) horse and my horse tried very hard and neither of them deserved to lose.

"He's unbelievably tough to say it was only his second run over hurdles, he jumped pretty slow early on to be honest but he's all heart."

12:45 Well thats that one out of the way, now we can concentrate on the real racing. It wasn't even much of spectacle as a race.

12:38 Two minutes to the first action of the afternoon - the somewhat pointless "people's race".

A good concept when it was first run three years ago. Like plenty of good ideas it does not know where to stop. As a one off it was an excellent idea, now it is a pointless exercise.

08:11 There has been 4.5mm of rain overnight and the going on both courses is Good, Good to Soft in places.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

2:15
2 Doctor David (withdrawn)

3:25
18 Mont Misere (lame - SC)

5:00
10 Fushe Jo (coughing - SC)

5:35
17 Saga de Tercey (cast in box - SC)

Results

1:45 Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f
1st 16 Bouggler 16/1
2nd 3 Copper Bleu 4/1
3rd 5 Ainama 8/1
17 Ran
Distances neck & 1 1/2
Fav 1 Cape Tribulation 3/1 (5th)
Tote
Win £22.60
Places £5.30 £2.10 £3.30
Exacta £118.70
CSF £74.60

2:15 Novices' Chase 2m
1st 3 Kalahari King 9/4
2nd 7 Tatenen 13/8 fav
6 Ran w/d 2
Distances 8
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.00
Places £1.70 £1.50
Exacta £4.50
CSF £6.00
Time 4' 08.7"
Rule 4 5p in the £

2:50 Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 14 Solwhit 6/1
2nd 6 Fiveforthree 7/1
3rd 16 United 28/1
17 Ran
Distance 1/2 & 3
Fav 1 Al Aile 4/1 (4th)
Tote
Win £8.60
Places £2.90 £2.60 £5.90
Exacta £59.70
CSF £45.25
Time 5' 01.7"

3:25 Handicap Chase 3m 1f

1st 4 Don't Push It 9/1
2nd 11 Leading Contender 20/1
3rd 17 Oakfield Legend 25/1
4th 10 According To John 6/1
16 Ran NR 18
Distances 3 1/2, 4 1/2 & 20
Fav 13 Peter Pole 5/1 (Unseated)
Tote
Win £11.00
Places £2.30 £5.10 £6.00 £1.80
Exacta £328.20
CSF £179.09
Tricast £4,334.35
Time 6' 40.6"

4:15 John Smiths Grand National
Handicap Chase 4m 4f

1st 15 Mon Mome 100/1
2nd 5 Comply Or Die 14/1
3rd 11 My Will 8/1
4th 13 State Of Play 14/1
40 Ran
Distances 12, 1 1/4 & 4 1/2
Fav 17 Butler's Cabin 7/1 (Upl)
Tote
Win £158.40
Places £27.30 £4.50 £3.50 £3.80
Exacta £2,610.90
CSF £1,146.54
Tricast £11,864.24
Time 9' 31.8"

5:00 Handicap Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 6 Culcabock 66/1
2nd 12 Issaquah 16/1
3rd 16 Joe Jo Star 20/1
4th 11 Qozak 100/30
20 Ran NR 10
Distances short head & 3
Fav 8 Seven Is My Number 3/1 (Upl)
Tote
Win £89.70
Places £14.10 £6.00 £2.90 £2.10
Exacta £1,324.60
CSF £909.41
Tricast £19,669.06
Time

5:35 Open NH Flat 2m 1f

1st 11 Sitting Tennant 66/1
2nd 16 Lidar 2/1 fav
3rd 3 Giordano Bruno 6/1
18 Ran NR 17
Distances 3/4 & 4 1/2
Fav second
Tote
Win £49.20
Places £9.70 £1.70 £2.90
Exacta £588.20
CSF £191.17
Time 4' 19"