Bridge of highs as Harry wins at 40-1

HARRY SKELTON could not

★

remember the last time he rode a 40-1 winner but he wasn’t complaining after West To The Bridge scored at Aintree yesterday.

In an incident-packed race, the first ★

three in the market came to grief in the novice hurdle that opened the card.

The Grand Visir, a son of ★

Frankel, refused at the first, catapulting jockey Tom Scudamore out of the saddle.

He knocked odds-on ★

favourite Eldorado Allen sideways, giving Tom O’Brien no chance of staying on board.

Then, leader ★

Champagne Mystery crashed through a rail after being forced to avoid the riderless horse.

It left a surprised Skelton (above) ★

to gleefully steer home West To The Bridge.

“That’s how it goes sometimes. ★

This sport is one of swings and roundabouts. I feel sorry for the others but I’ll take it.” Midnight Shadow looks like a

★ typical Sue Smith horse – a big, strong, chasing type. But he was a cosy winner of the £30,000 Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle under Danny Cook. The five-year-old, who won the

★

Scottish Champion Hurdle last season, appreciated the step up in trip and despite idling in front he won with a bit in hand.

Smith said: “He is pretty ★ effective over two miles or two and a half. He is maturing a bit now. He is a nice horse and I could do with a few more like him.” Later in the day,

★

Ballyhill ran out a ready winner of the Betway Handicap Chase for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies. The heavily-backed 7-2

★ favourite scored by three and a quarter lengths after a couple of spring-heeled leaps in the home straight. Caltex (5-1) briefly looked to be ★ laying down some sort of challenge ato the last but he was unable to bridge the gap. JASON HEAVEY