Thyme Hill made up for missing Cheltenham with a gutsy victory in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree.
A minor injury ruled the seven-year-old out of the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival, but he was brought back to fitness in time by his trainer Philip Hobbs.
There was also a change of jockey, with Tom O’Brien getting his chance after Richard Johnson’s recent retirement, having last ridden Thyme Hill to victory on his debut in a bumper at Worcester in October 2018.
O’Brien rode a copybook race, sitting in the main pack as Vinndication and Emitom set up a big early lead. The former was well clear at one stage, but he could not keep up the gallop.
The race changed complexion in the straight and it soon became a duel between Roksana and Thyme Hill.
The former held a narrow lead, but she was worn down in the closing stages by a determined Thyme Hill, with the 5-2 favourite getting the verdict by a neck. Thomas Darby was third, four and a quarter lengths away.
Paisley Park was a big disappointment, Emma Lavelle’s nine-year-old being pulled up before the third-last flight without posing a threat.
Star stayer!
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 10, 2021
Thyme Hill and Tom O'Brien time it to perfection to take the @Ryanair Stayers Hurdle#GrandNational pic.twitter.com/G9nTZCv3q7
My Drogo (5-4F) took his winning run to four with a most convincing performance in the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle.
Connections of the Dan Skelton-trained six-year-old decided to miss Cheltenham and it proved a wise move, with My Drogo powering home under Harry Skelton.
Pulling away in the closing stages, the winner crossed the line nine and a half lengths clear of Minella Drama, ridden by Skelton’s title rival Brian Hughes. Guard Your Dreams was half a length away in third. The first three were well ahead of Ballyadam in fourth.
My Drogo was held up towards the rear in the early stages as Llandinabo Lad made the running from Striking A Pose.
There was drama at the fourth-last flight, just as the race was warming up, with Lucky One and Striking A Pose both coming down.
Skelton managed to miss all that as he started to ask My Drogo for an effort – and it was plain sailing from there as the son of Milan opened his Grade One account in some style.
Wow!
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 10, 2021
My Drogo storms away to take @betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle#GrandNational pic.twitter.com/WKLaaMG1dj
Shishkin (1-8F) maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a workmanlike performance in the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s exciting prospect may not have been as impressive as in previous races, but the hot favourite got the job done to complete the Cheltenham-Aintree two-mile novice Grade One double after taking the Arkle Trophy last month.
Gumball made the running until Nico de Boinville decided to go on some way from home.
Funambule Sivola put in a brave bid, but Shishkin was too good and went on to win by three and a quarter lengths in what was a good time.
5/5 over fences!
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 10, 2021
Not quite the usual flawless display from Shishkin but he still has enough in the tank to win the @DoomBarBeer Maghull Novices' Chase comfortably#GrandNational pic.twitter.com/RZWQf16pv6
