07:18 It has been a dry night in Merseyside and the official going is Good to Soft.

There are currently two non-runners and the action gets underway at 14:10.

08:15 Three non-runners now.

09:22 Five non-runners now. The going stick reading is 6.3 on the chase course and 6.6 on the hurdle course.

13:13 Good afternoon from a sunny but chilly Aintree, for day two of their October meeting.

The non-runner count has now reached seven.

There is an odd, quiet feel to the place this afternoon, in complete contrast to the April festival.

There is a Halloween theme with many people walking round in scary costumes - not unlike Lady's Day at the Grand National meeting.

13:40 Our opening contest is the Halloween At Matalan Introductory Juvenile Hurdle, a 2m 1f contest with ten scheduled to go to post.

13:58 Quite a few in the opener are rather juvenile with Franklino and Escape Artist on their toes.

Almutaham and Mason Hindmarsh looking as though they soon could be on their toes.

14:31 Well a good result for the bookmakers as 50/1 shot Mason Hindmarsh took the spoils beating the two most fancied runners with second favourite Pena Dorada going down by a half length with the odds-on favourite Franklino 17 lengths further back in third.

The two market leaders were prominent throughout the contest, a race where the lead changed several times and no one horse dominated.

Turning for home there were still six in serious contention. It was jumping which saw most of the half dozen losing their chances. None of them falling but sloppy hurdling taking it’s toll most notably with Stags Leaf but also with the favourite.

It became a two horse race in the closing stages  with Mason Hindmarsh always seeming to have enough in hand to hold off Pena Dorada, eventually coning home half a length clear.

Almutaham was another who was prominent throughout, coming home fourth. 3¼ lengths further back.

14:33 Just four go to post for our opening chase, the Matalan and NSPCC Novices’ Chase, a 2m 4f contest.

14:37 In contrast to the juveniles in the opener the four runners in this contest are much more relaxed.

Adams Island is pulling slightly but nothing to be too concerned about, he is also the biggest horse in the field and is, just, the pick on looks.

15:02 Only four runners but an incident packed contest with plenty of burnt fingers as the well backed odds-on favourite Wishful Thinking, with Richard Johnson on board gave a textbook demonstration of Newton’s laws of gravity – the fall, at the first, looking like a slow motion replay even in real-time.

The field was further depleted at the fifth as the champion jockey AP McCoy also proved he was not immune from the laws of gravity as he parted company with Galaxy Rock.

This left chasing debutant Adams Island in front with Cool Friend in pursuit.

Cool Friend, the only runner in the field with experience over the larger obstacles had a consistent record over fences coming second every time he had competed.

Turning for home Adams Island still had the advantage under Tom Scudamore but Cool Friend under Tom O’Brien was looking the fresher and he hit the front approaching the last, running on to record a 12 length victory, finally getting his head in front over fences.      

15:11 The Helicentre Liverpool Handicap Hurdle over the extended three miles is next up, with 13 going to post.

The enigmatic Racing demon returns to the smaller obstacles and is getting lively in the parade ring.

15:40 Another race for the layers as The Shy Man comes home the comfortable 25/1 winner of the three mile hurdle, having been settled behind the front rank runners before running on to take up the running two out.

The near white joint-favourite Predictive set the pace with Markington and Racing Demon, although by the time they turned for home the final time Markington was a well tailed off last.

Three out Predictive and Racing Demon were still in the van with The Shy Man on their quarters.

Just behind were the other joint-favourite Cross Kennon, whose chances were arguably spoiled by some very iffy jumping on the first circuit, and Sound Stage.

Predictive paid the price for his front running in the closing stages and only came home fifth, with his market rival just behind.

Two out it looked as though Racing Demon was going to have a good shot at victory but he was outpaced  by The Shy Man, still coming home a credible second.

Sound Stage ran on to come home third, with Parlesotho coming home fourth.

15:45 Our feature race is the two mile Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase (for the John Parrett Memorial Trophy), with just six going to post.

16:17 Well Bob’s Dream may have looked good in the parade ring, it is just a shame his attitude did not match his appearance.

Even by the third fence his rider was giving him reminders and his backers were soon in no doubt as to the fate of their money – he eventually pulled up before the last.

Stagecoach Pearl, by contrast, had no attitude issues, leading from flag fall he never saw another rival eventually coming home a facile 22 lengths clear, despite getting very close to the fence four out.

Awesome George and the favourite Tramantano filled second and third spot throughout, crossing the line in that order, separated by six lengths.

16:20 There were farcical scenes before the final chase as the final two fences were dolled off due to the low sun, oddly enough three out, which has the same alignment was not dolled off.

16:25 Race five sees the hurdling debut of Cheltenham Bumper winner Cue Card, who looks the pick of the paddock.

The debut is in the European Breeders Fund Bestway National Hunt Novices Hurdle (Qualifier) over 2m 4f, with eight facing the starter.

16:41 On a day when odds-on favourites have disappointed one way or another there were no such problems with Cue Card on his hurdling debut.

Settled mid-division by Joe Tizzard he came with a challenge approaching three out and by two out it was race over as he came home 13 lengths clear.

Runners-up spot went to Dear Sam, thereabouts in the final half of the race and deservedly best of the rest.

Mr Moonshine, second for most of the contest, eventually finished third.

Long time leader Mind Shower tailed off.

Cue Card’s market rival Nicene Creed was never looking impressive, eventually coming home a never threatening fourth.

 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

15:20
10 Bescot Springs (sore - 19:49 Sat)

15:55
5 Fred Bojangals (going - 08:08)

16:30
1 Captain Chris (pulled muscle - SC 10:20)
4 Bens Moor (knocked joint - SC 09:12)
5 Bottman (declared in error - 09:08)

17:05
1 Royal Scoundrel (infected foot - VC 11:21)
4 Brunswick Gold (bad scope - SC 13:47 Fri)

Results

14:10 Juvenile Hurdle 2m 1f

14:45 Novices' Chase 2m 4f

15:20 Handicap Hurdle 3m 110yds

15:55 Handicap Chase 2m

16:30 Novices Hurdle 2m 4f

17:05 NH Flat 2m 1f