02.04.09 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE

First three races and quotes from the first day of the John Smith's Grand National, Thursday 2nd April

First Race: John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle

Winner’s Quotes

BIG BUCK’S, EARS PRICKED

Big Buck’s reinforced his position as the best staying hurdler in training with an emphatic victory in the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle, beating a re-invigorated Mighty Man by three and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Paul Nicholls admitted that there were minor anxieties before the meeting about the horse holding his form. "I suppose I was always a bit nervous when they’ve had a hard race at Cheltenham, but Big Buck’s is a very, very good horse," he said

There weren’t anxieties in the race, though is his nature, the horse came off the bridle mid-race: "At Cheltenham he was on and off the bridle, that’s just him. That’s just the nature of him. I knew he was going to pick up. And then suddenly the horse got there too soon," said the trainer.

"Ruby knows the horse and he said to me he knew that he was going to win all the way he just didn’t want to get there too soon. Big Buck’s pricks his ears a little bit, you just have to make up his mind for him. He ducks and dives, but when you’ve got that much talent under you, it’s easy," added the trainer.

Nicholls confirmed that the horse would not be switched to chasing in the foreseeable future. "He won’t go chasing now. He looks like being the best for the moment over hurdles, so we’re just going to stay there," he said.

He will have an entry for Punchestown, but it will be totally ground dependent. If the ground’s right he could go. We’re not in a hurry with him. If he went to Punchestown it wouldn’t matter if he had a nice long holiday afterwards.

"It was a fine training performance by Henry (Daly) to get his horse (Mighty Man) so well again after the injuries he has had and he ran a blinding race. He was the horse to beat so all credit to them but Big Buck's is a very, very good horse.

"In hindsight, his defeat in the Hennessy was probably the best thing that could have happened to him, but I wasn't best pleased at the time.

"He will definitely be staying over hurdles next season and we won't be going chasing. As long as there is Kauto Star and Denman and all those lads are at the top of their game, and Big Buck's is at the top of his game over hurdles, there is no point in changing."

Walsh added: "He's a very good horse and he has a lot of class. He was a tad free early on but he soon switched off and he's just a very good horse.

"I was going by Tony turning in and said to him I didn't know how well we were going because I thought that Richard was travelling quite well in front. As we straightened up and I went for a gap between the other two, he has just come alive."

First race

The John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle Race

Placed quotes

MIGHTY RUN IN DEFEAT

Aintree specialist Mighty Man’s last win was in this same race two years ago and, making only his second start since suffering a serious injury in his subsequent appearance at Punchestown in April 2007, he delighted connections with a game run in second behind Big Buck’s. Having led round the home turn, the nine-year-old, who also won the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle in 2006 and the John Smith’s Top Novices’ Hurdle the previous year, appeared to scupper his chance of victory when blundering at the final flight of hurdles.

Trainer Henry Daly said: "He’s run a cracking race and has been beaten by a very good horse fair and square but he’s run a really nice race. Even if he’d jumped the last I don’t think he’d have won though we might have been a little bit closer. He just doesn’t make mistakes usually, maybe it was a bit of bounce but I don’t know. It was a great race and he does seem to enjoy it round here (Aintree)."

Outlining future plans, Daly added: "There’s a possibility he might go for the Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock, otherwise he’ll be finished for the season. There’s no chance whatsoever of him returning to Punchestown."

Race 1: John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle

Placed quotes

FAIR ALONG IS MR CONSISTENCY

Consistent Fair Along ran another fine race in the Grade 2 John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle, finishing third to the season's champion staying hurdler, Big Buck's.

Fitted with a tongue strap for the first time, Fair Along, who was ridden by Rhys Flint, was in contention to the second-last flight, but could not quicken with the winner.

Trainer Philip Hobbs said: "I'm delighted he's run so well, and probably up to his very best. He got closer to the winner here than at Cheltenham [when ninth to Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle].

"We fitted a tongue tie after that run because we thought he might have a breathing issue - that wasn't definite and I'm not sure the tongue tie has worked today, because when a horse has a palate problem it can be intermittent."

Asked whether Fair Along might go back over fences at some point in his career, Hobbs hesitated, then said: "He's probably more likely to go Flat racing than over fences. I should think he will go to Punchestown and then start next season in the Cesarewitch [at Newmarket] in October ahead of another jumps season. I doubt he'll get into handicaps again after his performances this season."

GOING AFTER THE FIRST RACE

Ruby Walsh, rider of the 5/6 winner Big Buck’s, described the going as "Beautiful."

Richard Johnson, rider of second placed Mighty Man, said: "It is just on the slow side of good."

Rhys Flint, rider of third placed Fair Along, thought the ground "Good."

Barry Geraghty, rider of Duc De Regniere, said: "It was a little bit dead for my fella."

Paddy Brennan, rider of Pettifour, said: "Proper good ground, beautiful."

Davy Condon, rider of Faasel, said: "It is a bit dead."

AP McCoy, rider of Hills Of Aran, described the ground as "Good."

Jason Maguire, rider of Master Eddy, said: "Beautiful."

Denis O’Regan, rider of No Refuge, said: "It is beautiful good ground."

Second race

The Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle Race

Winner’s quotes

WALKON CHEERS LIVERPOOL FAITHFUL WITH WIDE-MARGIN VICTORY

The flying grey Walkon, runner-up to Zaynar in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on his last start, went one better with a scintillating 13-length triumph in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle.

His delighted trainer Alan King said: "Zaynar must be one hell of a horse as he beat us fair and square and he’s done it twice. But that was impressive today, very few horses got into it.

"It developed into a two-horse race and the one thing we knew with our lad is that he would gallop all the way to the line. He’s struck into himself on one front leg and lost a plate on the other so he’s got a few war wounds but he’s finished for the season now and he’ll be alright."

Looking ahead to next season, King indicated that he would not necessarily aim the rangey French-bred at the Champion Hurdle, for which he has been given a quote of 14/1 with Paddy Power, cut from 33/1 after today’s win.

He said: "We might go down the Arkle route but I change my mind very regularly. I’m just going to enjoy today and enjoy the summer and we’ll see what the autumn brings. I would imagine he’ll start over hurdles in the autumn. He’s a nice horse to have and I don’t think he’s just a Triumph Hurdle horse - he’s got a lot of size and scope."

"I said beforehand that I thought that we might just be vulnerable to one or two of the speed horses but very few got into the race. It was a proper test and I couldn't have been more pleased with him.

The winning rider Robert Thornton commented: "He actually dawdled round and I thought that he was always in second gear. I just wondered whether anything was travelling well behind us turning in but there wasn't and he has done it well.

"I missed a flight down the back. He just took his eye of it for a minute but he has jumped very well. He's very tough - he always pulls out plenty and he tried very hard in the Triumph.

"He has deserved to win a race like that. I thought that we were going to win coming to the last at Cheltenham but he was beaten by a better horse on the day.

"There's loads off improvement in him - he's just a frame of a horse at the moment and he will jump a fence some time. I would rather take 12/1 for the Arkle rather than the Champion Hurdle!"

SECOND RACE PLACED QUOTES

MATALAN 4-Y-O NOVICES’ HURDLE (GRADE 1)

VAUGHAN DELIGHTED WITH SKI RUN

Ski Sunday proved no match for the runaway 13-length winner Walkon in the Matalan 4YO Novices’ Hurdle but his trainer Tim Vaughan was delighted with the effort.

"The best horse won and it’s a pleasure to be here in second, as it was when he was runner-up at Cheltenham [in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle] but he really deserves to win a big one," said Vaughan. "We’ll have a look at the Scottish Champion Hurdle or the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock but otherwise we could put him away and bring him back early next season.

"It’s obscene how much he has improved this season and we’ll have to see what the handicapper does with him."

Alan Fleming, trainer of third-place Starluck, was pleased with the level of form that his horse has maintained, but wondered what might have been.

"In hindsight, we probably should have missed Cheltenham and taken the horse straight to Aintree, but I’m not complaining. The horse has run a fabulous race, we’ve been in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham [where the horse was fourth] and Aintree and it’s more than we ever would have expected when we bought him. And Walkon, the horse that’s beaten him, is probably the most improved horse in training. Starluck will have a rest now and we’re looking forward to next season."

THIRD RACE PLACED QUOTES

totesport BOWL CHASE (GRADE 2)

Winner

MADISON TAKES DRAMATIC totesport BOWL

A fall two from home by evens favourite Denman gifted the totesport Bowl to the front-running 12/1 chance Madison Du Berlais, who held off Exotic Dancer to score by four and a half lengths under Tom Scudamore.

The winner, who had beaten Denman on his seasonal comeback in February, was bouncing back from a lacklustre run in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"Maybe he sulked a bit in the Gold Cup but he has put in a terrific performance today and it was a great ride by Tom. After two fences, you could see that he was different to when he ran at Cheltenham - maybe it's the flat track," said winning trainer David Pipe.

"He a tough customer and he has been at Pond House for a long time. The likes of him, Lough Derg and Tamarinbleu are horses that we bought as youngsters in France and they have been around for years. It's a great credit to everyone at home and it’s a long home straight out there!

Scudamore added: "He's very, very tough. I was a bit worried when Denman came upsides me but I knew that we would keep jumping and galloping.

"I heard Denman coming through and I knew it was going to be tough, but to be fair he didn’t head me and I think I would have held him. The best news to have come out of the race is that Denman is OK and it's always sad to see great champions fall. We have still beaten a horse like Exotic Dancer at level weights.

"Madison has jumped from fence to fence and given me a tremendous thrill today. He has been a superstar for me and a great flagbearer for the yard this season.

"He was fantastic today. Hopefully, it was a joy to watch, he was certainly a joy to ride. He really enjoyed it today and so did I.

"I was beaten too early on him at Cheltenham to blame the track, but he wouldn’t be the first horse to have disappointed there he is still only eight. He has a lot of scope and is still a young horse and hopefully has a big future. His jumping is very neat and effective.

"This was great for the yard as we didn’t have any winners at Cheltenham. We haven't had as good a season as we would have liked but days like this certainly make it easier.

"The horse is very special to me - he's won a Hennessy and he's my first winner round Aintree for a few years. He's been very good to me, as has the trainer."

Third race

The totesport Bowl Steeple Chase

Placed quotes

‘ONE TOO GOOD’ FOR EXOTIC DANCER AGAIN AS O’NEILL GRABS SECOND AND THIRD

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill smiled ruefully as he hailed the achievement of his consistent place-getter Exotic Dancer, who was third in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and had to settle for second behind Madison Du Berlais in the totesport Bowl after running on strongly to the line.

O’Neill said: "It was a great run but he always seems to meet one too good. He must be the unluckiest horse in training. He ran his heart out but I’ve seen him jump better. In a race like that a few mistakes take their toll at the end. Your just can’t afford to make them. You have to have everything going for you and it just didn’t go that way today."

He added: "I’ll have to talk to Barry (Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden) before I decide where he goes next."

The trainer was also responsible for third-placed Albertas Run, owned by Trevor Hemmings.

He said: "Albertas Run ran a really good race. He did everything right but he just found two too good! I imagine he’ll go to Punchestown now."