Mullins on the double as ‘Passe’ lands Aintree Hurdle thriller
It wasn’t quite Cheltenham, but there were still four Irish-trained winners on the opening day of Aintree where Impaire Et Passe had to survive a lengthy stewards’ inquiry before being declared the winner of the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.
Willie Mullins’ evens favourite rounded the final bend on the bridle but did not run straight to the line as both Langer Dan and Henry de Bromhead’s Bob Olinger (Rachael Blackmore) threw down their challenges in what was a thrilling finish to the Grade One contest.
Impaire Et Passe appeared to briefly cross Langer Dan’s path after the last, while Bob Olinger also seemed to drift inwards on the run-in, leaving Langer Dan slightly sandwiched between them.
The judge was required to split the trio, with Impaire Et Passe coming home a nose in front of Bob Olinger, with Langer Dan a further short head back in third.
A stewards’ inquiry was soon called, but Impaire Et Passe was eventually confirmed, much to Mullins’ delight.
“It was a long wait but I was pretty confident we’d keep it once I’d seen the overhead angle, I thought that gave us a great chance,” said the trainer.
“When Paul and Harry (Skelton on Langer Dan) crossed after the last hurdle there was never any interference and I thought it would be hard to change it.
“Paul thought he was idling in front, which is a legitimate excuse. He could go to Punchestown now or we might think about France.”
Mullins and Townend also combined to land the opening Close Brothers Manifesto Novices’ Chase with Il Etait Temps.
The grey (3/1) was ridden patiently by Townend at the rear of the field of five. He was always in touch, however, and was able to pick off each of his rivals to take up the lead ahead of the last fence and went on to prevail by nine lengths.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Ginny’s Destiny held off 11/10 favourite Grey Dawning for second.
Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe battled to victory to take the William Hill Bowl Chase. The Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up was sent off the 9/4 favourite and sat just off the pace throughout under Jack Kennedy.
He was ridden rounding the home turn but as stamina came to the fore up the run-in, he locked horns with Ahoy Senor. While Lucinda Russell’s charge did his best to fight back, Gerri Colombe was just too strong and came home half a length in front. Corbetts Cross was just over two lengths back in third.
“Jack said he probably ended up in front too soon in the end, but he’s a great horse who only does what he has to do and we’re lucky to have him,” said Elliott.
“All roads lead back to the Gold Cup next year, we’ll probably go the same route again and keep dreaming.”
Cheltenham Festival runner-up Its On The Line justified 3/1 favouritism in the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase for Derek O’Connor.
The seven-year-old was kept out of trouble by O’Connor in the early stages before he delivered Emmet Mullins’ charge with a perfectly-timed challenge to score by four-and-a-quarter lengths from Bennys King with Annamix, ridden by Patrick Mullins, back in third.
After a nightmare Cheltenham, relief was the overriding emotion for Nicky Henderson after Sir Gino (11/10 favourite) claimed the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle.
The Triumph Hurdle absentee proved his worth on Merseyside, tracking the Mullins-trained Kargese into the home straight in the hands of Nico de Boinville before picking up well after a good leap at the final flight to prevail by threeand-a-quarter lengths.