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Aintree round-up: Irish trainers mop up on soggy ground

Updated / Friday, 14 Apr 2023 18:15
Gerri Colombe returned to winning ways at Aintree
Gerri Colombe returned to winning ways at Aintree

Gerri Colombe put a narrow Cheltenham Festival reverse behind him with a dominant victory in the Air Charter Service Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree under Davy Russell.

The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old won two bumpers, two novices hurdles and his first three starts over fences, ensuring he was a hot favourite to maintain his unbeaten record in last month’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in the Cotswolds.

Gerri Colombe came off second-best in a titanic tussle with The Real Whacker at Cheltenham, going down by a short head, and was a 4-6 shot to reward those who kept the faith.

And anyone who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns for the duration of the extended three-mile contest, with Elliott’s charge travelling as smooth as silk for much of the way and moving ominously into the slipstream of Galia Des Liteaux early in the home straight.

Once asked to go about his business, Gerri Colombe readily extended clear and Russell saluted the crowd as his mount passed the post with seven and a half lengths in hand over the Paul Nicholls-trained Complete Unknown.

It was a notable success for the veteran rider, who called time on his glittering career in December only to return in the new year to fill in for the sidelined Jack Kennedy.

Russell endured a frustrating week at Cheltenham, standing himself down before he was due to take the ride on Elliott’s Conflated in the Gold Cup, but thrust himself back into the big-race spotlight aboard the exciting Gerri Colombe, who looks a Gold Cup horse in the making.

Rachael Blackmore steered Inthepocket (3-1F) to a first Grade One success in the Poundland Top Novices' Hurdle.

A Grade Two winner at Navan earlier in the season for Henry de Bromhead, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old went on to fill the runner-up at the highest level at the Dublin Racing Festival before finishing a creditable fourth to Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

On the strength of that form Inthepocket was sent off favourite for his third top-level assignment and after racing close to the pace throughout, he moved smoothly to the lead halfway up the straight and found plenty for pressure on the run-in to secure the honours by length and three-quarters.

Strong Leader came from a mile back to fill the runner-up spot, charging home to beat Luccia to the silver medal, with Hansard not far behind that pair in fourth.

Fennor Cross (8-1) claimed the William Hill Handicap Hurdle for John McConnell and 5lb claimer Ben Harvey.

McConnell and Harvey teamed up for Cheltenham Festival success last month with Seddon and hopes were high that Fennor Cross could also get the trainer off the mark at Aintree.

After finishing down the field in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on his latest start, the six-year-old was a two-length winner on his return to handicap company.

British-based trainers struck back in the remaining races on the card and Bill Baxter (20-1) got Warren Greatrex back into the big-race winner's enclosure with a determined victory over the National fences in the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase.

While run over a distance some way short of the big one, the Topham traditionally gives jockeys a chance to get their eye in on the eve of the world’s most famous steeplechase.

From the final fence it was a straight shootout between Greatrex’s grey ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies and the Nicky Henderson-trained Fantastic Lady, and it was Bill Baxter who finished best to prevail by a length and three-quarters.

Apple Away (16-1) stuck to her guns to provide trainer Lucinda Russell with a second victory in the last three renewals of the Winners Wear Cavani Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

Ahoy Senor was a shock 66-1 winner of the three-mile Grade One two years ago for the Scottish trainer, but has since proved that was no fluke by establishing himself as a top-class staying chaser.

Apple Away was not quite as big a price following recent triumphs in a handicap hurdle at Ayr and a Listed race at Doncaster, although she did face a steep rise in class.

Just as Ahoy Senor did in 2021, Apple Away set out to make all the running in the hands of Stephen Mulqueen and one by one saw off each of her challengers.

Donald McCain’s Maximilian emerged as the biggest threat after the final flight, but Apple Away never looked in real danger of being reeled in with her 7lb allowance and had a length and three-quarters in hand at the line.

Iroko and Stay Away Fay, both winners at the Cheltenham Festival last month, finished third and fourth respectively.

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