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Picture of the Day
Terrefort ridden by
Daryl Jacob
I was up at 06:00 this morning, following another
restless night. Having showered, washed
and dried my hair, I was ready to go to breakfast by 07:15, accompanied by my
friend Sandra.
War-paint applied, we set off for Aintree at
09:35; it was my turn to drive today.
Having stood in the car park since Wednesday evening, and been rained
on overnight, I was hopeful that the car bonnet issue would be solved this
year; besides, the fan which cools the engine had also been replaced in
February.
We had to wait in a queue prior to the security
staff checking the vehicles. I
released the bonnet catch and ... you’ve guessed it ... the damn thing
refused to lock again. However, I’ve
become so accustomed to this annual occurrence, that I just told the security
guard to leave it as it was; I’d fix it.
Due to the shortage of spaces in the field beyond
the entrance this year, I was directed to park immediately adjacent to
it. The guy directing me to the
parking space also tried to close the bonnet; I told him not to worry,
everything was in hand. However it
took perseverance because, having removed the two rubber stoppers, it still
wouldn’t lock. As the engine needed to
cool down, I kept the bonnet raised; twenty minutes and two or three attempts
at regular intervals, it locked.
Phew!
Having locked my naughty car, we headed to the
entrance which was just metres away.
With bags checked, and our bodies scanned for weapons(!),
we walked across the Melling Road, then across the
back straight of the Mildmay course in order to
reach a bus which was waiting to take us to the grandstands side of the
racecourse; it was standing room only thereon.
We then went in search of race-cards; we
purchased these from a kiosk today.
Having bought two bottles of water, we headed to the ladies loo
situated behind the Earl of Derby stand; it was locked! We headed to the corresponding loo to the
rear of the Lord Sefton stand instead; it was
open.
It had been raining earlier and, having relocated
to the steppings below the Weighing Room, it began
to rain once more. We sought shelter
beneath the canopy which straddles the horse-walkway that leads to the
racecourse, and that’s where we stayed whilst the Parade of Champions took
place within the Parade Ring, along with a demonstration by nine side-saddle
ladies.
The ROR parade also took place today – according
to the programme, taking part were Barbers Shop, Junior, Mad Moose, Midnight
Chase, Peddlers Cross, Pineau De Re, Wild West, Inchloss, Mabait and Monet’s
Garden. I cannot vouch for this, as we
only saw them from afar, and it wasn’t easy to hear the commentary which
accompanied this parade!
It had almost stopped raining by the time we took
up our regular position beside the horse-walkway ahead of the first
race.
The favourite for this race was the Alan
King-trained Who Dares Wins, ridden by Wayne Hutchinson; price 13-2. He’d finished 5th in this season’s Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival. Stable companion Wilde Blue Yonder also got
into this seemingly oversubscribed race; he was ridden by Tom Cannon.
However, the winner was outsider Jester Jet; a
20-1 shot. She’s trained by Tom Lacey and was ridden by Robert Dunne. Who Dares Wins finished 3rd and Wilde Blue
Yonder 4th.
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Race 1:
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Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
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19 ran
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Horse
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Trainer
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Jockey
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1st
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Jester Jet
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Tom Lacey
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Robert Dunne
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2nd
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Eaton Hill
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Kerry Lee
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Jamie Moore
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3rd
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Who Dares Wins
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Alan King
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Wayne Hutchinson
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4th
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Wilde Blue Yonder
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Alan King
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Tom Cannon
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The favourite for the next race was Global Citizen,
trained by Ben Pauling and ridden by Daryl Jacob; price 5-2. The horse was won Kempton’s Grade 2
Dovecote Hurdle back in February.
Runner-up in that race was the Alan King-trained Scarlet Dragon.
But it was a fairytale ending to this particular
race, with Lalor winning for trainer Kayley Woollacott and jockey
Richard Johnson. Kayley
had taken over the trainer’s licence following the death of her husband
Richard earlier this year; he’d suffered from depression and had taken his
own life.
Scarlet Dragon finished 9th.
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Race 2:
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Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
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13 ran
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Horse
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Trainer
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Jockey
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1st
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Lalor
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Kayley Woollacott
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Richard Johnson
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2nd
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Vision Des Flos
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Colin Tizzard
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Robbie Power
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3rd
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Bedrock
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Iain Jardine
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Ross Chapman
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4th
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Mind’s Eye
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Henry de Bromhead
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Davy Russell
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The favourite for the next event was Terrefort; I love him.
He’s trained by Nicky Henderson and was ridden by Daryl Jacob; price
3-1. Also taking part was the
admirable mare, Ms Parfois; she was bouncing along
as she was led from the Parade Ring to the racecourse.
Alan King’s Mia’s Storm was a non-runner; she
hates soft ground.
Jamie Snowden had a runner in this race, namely
Hogan’s Height. Jamie always goes to
the starting gate when this horse runs, to ensure he jumps off with the
others. In order to reach the
racecourse, the trainer had to negotiate two gates ... he vaulted over
them. As we were standing just beside
the second of these, I wished him luck; he thanked me!
And the winner was Terrefort,
who beat Ms Parfois by 3¾ lengths. Hogan’s Height completed, last of the 6
which finished, but he did qualify for a prize of £1,100.
We decided to return to the Winners’ Enclosure to
see Terrefort return.
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Race 3:
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Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
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9 ran
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Horse
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Trainer
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Jockey
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1st
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Terrefort
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Nicky Henderson
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Daryl Jacob
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2nd
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Ms Parfois
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Anthony Honeyball
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Noel Fehily
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3rd
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Elegant Escape
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Colin Tizzard
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Harry Cobden
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4th
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Black Corton
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Paul Nicholls
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Bryony Frost
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Additional
runner(s) of interest:
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6th
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Hogan’s Height
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Jamie Snowden
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Gavin Sheehan
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The favourite for today’s feature race was Min, trained
by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend; price
11-10. Min had finished as runner-up
to Altior in this year’s Queen Mother Champion
Chase, a race in which fellow competitor Politologue
had finished 4th. Also taking part
today was Balko Des Flos,
winner of the Ryanair Chase.
It was a close finish, with Politologue
prevailing by a neck. He deserved it,
having tripped himself up in last year’s Maghull
Novices’ Chase on Grand National Day.
The winner is owned by John Hales, who also owned One Man, sadly lost
in this race 20 years ago.
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Race 4:
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Melling Chase (Grade 1)
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6 ran
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Horse
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Trainer
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Jockey
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1st
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Politologue
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Paul Nicholls
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Sam Twiston-Davies
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2nd
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Min
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Willie Mullins
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Paul Townend
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3rd
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Sizing Granite
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Colin Tizzard
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Robbie Power
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4th
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Balko Des Flos
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Henry de Bromhead
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Davy Russell
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The favourite for the next race was Polidam, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Daryl
Jacob; price 9-1.
Jamie
Bargary, who was riding Bigbadjohn,
was dumped unceremoniously by his mount whilst heading out to the
racecourse. He crashed against the
plastic rails; his colleagues asked him if he was okay ... he said he
was.
Despite
being out of form in the run up to this race, it was won by Ultragold; he’d won the race last year too. He’s trained by Colin Tizzard
and was ridden by Harry Cobden once again.
Ultragold is becoming a specialist over the
Grand National fences, having also been the runner-up in December’s Grand Sefton Chase.
My un-bet upon selection was Kilcrea
Vale ridden by Jeremiah McGrath ... he finished 4th at 12-1!
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Race 5:
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Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
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27 ran
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Horse
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Trainer
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Jockey
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1st
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Ultragold
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Colin Tizzard
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Harry Cobden
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2nd
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Shanahan’s Turn
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Colin Tizzard
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Robbie Power
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3rd
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Theatre Territory
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Warren Greatrex
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Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
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4th
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Kilcrea Vale
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Nicky Henderson
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Jeremiah McGrath
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The favourite for the penultimate race of the day
was Santini, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden
by Nico de Boinville;
price 6-4.
Alan King was represented in this race by Good
Man Pat, sporting the familiar yellow with red spots silks of owner David
Sewell; Tom Bellamy rode. Jamie
Snowden also had a runner in this race, namely Dans
Le Vent ridden by Gavin Sheehan; Jamie and one of the owners watched the race
from the Earl of Derby stand steppings.
And the favourite duly obliged, although Dan
Skelton’s mare Roksana put up a brave fight. Dans Le Vent ran
extremely well to complete in 6th position, winning £1,100; he was a 66-1
shot!
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Race 6:
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Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
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13 ran
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Horse
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Trainer
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Jockey
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1st
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Santini
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Nicky Henderson
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Nico de Boinville
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2nd
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Roksana
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Dan Skelton
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Harry Skelton
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3rd
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Tower Bridge
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Joseph Patrick O’Brien
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J J Slevin
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4th
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Uppertown Prince
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Donald McCain
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Brian Hughes
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Additional
runner(s) of interest:
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6th
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Dans Le Vent
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Jamie Snowden
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Gavin Sheehan
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P/U
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Good Man Pat
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Alan King
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Tom Bellamy
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The favourite for the final race of the day was
the Paul Nicholls-trained Danny Kirwan, ridden by
Sam Twiston-Davies; price 11-4. He’s a very good looking horse.
Alan King had a runner in this race, Harambe ridden by Tom Bellamy.
And the winner was the Warren Greatrex-trained
Portrush Ted, ridden by Warren Greatrex. The horse is owned by the McNeill family;
Mr McNeill senior was on hand to accept the prize.
Harambe finished 3rd by a
nose, having lost the runner-up spot on the line; not bad for a 33-1 shot!
Danny Kirwan finished a
very disappointing 17th.
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Race 7:
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Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2)
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20 ran
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Horse
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Trainer
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Jockey
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1st
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Portrush Ted
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Warren Greatrex
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Gavin Sheehan
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2nd
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Kateson
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Tom Lacey
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Tom Scudamore
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3rd
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Harambe
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Alan King
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Tom Bellamy
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4th
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Al Dancer
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Nigel Twiston-Davies
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Jamie Bargary
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We returned to the steppings above the Winners’ Enclosure following the
race, before setting off upon our journey back to the hotel.
Having taken the bus back to the car park, there
were no queues to leave; it was 17:55.
We negotiated the Anchor Bridge and turned right having arrived at
Aintree Lane; we subsequently wended our way to, and over the swing-bridge
before reaching the traffic lights at the junction with the A506. Whilst waiting to turn left, both Jonjo O’Neill’s and Jamie Snowden’s horseboxes drove
past!
I subsequently headed down the dual carriageway,
turning right at the roundabout and heading up the slip-road onto the M57. We left one junction later in order to join
the A580; we continued on this road all the way back to our hotel, arriving
back at 18:30.
Dinner was booked for 20:00. Tonight’s meal was chicken escalope; it
proved too much for me! I drank two
glasses of apple and mango J20, but still found room for the desert – warm
chocolate fudge cake, with ice cream.
The service was far better tonight, although we were sat at one of two
tables in the ‘corridor’! Fortunately, though, it was the better of
the two!
My friends on facebook
informed me that they had seen me on the ITV News that evening. I was standing next to two girls who had
been posing for the camera; it was Ladies Day after all! And, yes, I tuned in later and saw me
too!!!
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