Grand National Day at Aintree is one of the most dramatic events on the National Hunt racing calendar. Tens of thousands of punters pilled back into the iconic Merseyside venue for this year’s meeting, while millions watched on from home, and it certainly didn’t disappoint — with the National itself ending with a heart-warming story for the second successive year.
Unlike the Scottish National at Ayr the week prior, a meeting dominant by winning favourites, Grand National Day gave the bookies the chance to recoup some of their losses — as outsiders dominated the results. That said, read on as we take a look back a thrilling day of jump racing.
Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – Party Business
Party Business opened proceedings on the final day of the festival, winning the Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle by nothing more than three quarters of a length clear of Ilikedwayurthinkin. The 11/2 shot was joined by the Gavin Cromwell-trained horse before the last, but managed to re-established his lead in the closing stages for a narrow win.
Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Three Stripe Life
After a rather subdue Cheltenham Festival by his standards, Gordon Elliott would have been hoping for a better performance from his contingent at Aintree — and Three Stripe Life ensured there was another Grade 1 victory for the Irishman.
Fancied in the horse racing tips prior to the Mersey, the six-year-old opened up a three-length lead before the last and kept on well to finish almost five lengths clear of Harry Fry’s Might I.
Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – Gentleman De Mee
There was somewhat of a shock in the second Grade 1 contest of the day, as Arkle Challenge Trophy winner Edwardstone was beaten in the Maghull. Setting off as the 4/7F, the Alan King horse was going well in second two out but lost ground before the last and Gentleman De Mee streaked clear to win by over four lengths.
Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) – Sire Du Berlais
With Epatante, Jonbon, Fakir D’oudairies and Gentleman De Mee all picking up victories already at Aintree, Sire Du Berlais made it five wins at the meeting for esteemed owner JP McManus.
Also delivering a second win of the day for Elliott, the 16/1 chance joined Flooring Porter at the fore of the field two out, and with the dual Stayers’ Hurdle champion jumping left at the last, Sire Du Berlais stayed on to win by almost two lengths.
Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – Sam Brown
The winners just kept getting bigger, with 28/1 shot Sam Brown winning the Grade 3 Handicap Chase for handler Anthony Honeyball. Taking the lead two out, the 10-year-old never looked back — going clear over the last of the 19 fences and storming home 15 lengths clear of favourite Shan Blue.
Grand National (Grade 3) – Noble Yeats
Carrying on the trend of big-priced winners, amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen ended his riding career with a massive victory in the Grand National — denying McManus his sixth victory of the week as Noble Yeats beat pre-race favourite Any Second Now by over two lengths.
Disputing the lead with the market leader two out, the huge 50/1 shot took the lead over the last of the 30 fences and was ridden hard by a demanding Waley-Cohen around the elbow and up the home straight for a dramatic send off.
—
Lookaway (28/1) won the closing National Hunt Flat Race by two lengths for trainer Neil King.
