Aintree’s Grand National meeting got off to the sort of start the Jockey Club were hoping for on Thursday as good crowds through the gate witnessed top-class jumps racing with four Grade One races starting the meeting off in style.
The spectre of animal rights protests had been lessened by a statement from the group who’d disrupted last year’s event saying they had no plans to target the event this time around, leaving racegoers able to concentrate on finding winners on what looked a tricky card. With four favourites winning on the day punters went home happy enough, bookmakers not so much.
The showcase race of the first day, the Aintree Hurdle, went to Irish trainer Willie Mullins who saddled Impair Et Passe to win a thrilling race which ended in controversy after a lengthy steward’s enquiry into possible interference resulted in no action with the placings eventually remaining as they were at the line.
In the race Impair Et Passe’s jockey Paul Townened had the gelding well positioned throughout and made his challenge in the home straight. But he didn’t have things his own way as Rachael Blackmore loomed up on his outside, having given her mount Bob Olinger a patient ride from the back. Meanwhile Harry Skelton was driving dual Cheltenham Festival winner Langer Dan up on the inside of the track.
At the last three fences Impair Et Passe jumped to his right, slightly hampering Bob Olinger but Blackmore was not forced to stop riding at any point. It was after the last that Townend looked as though he may be in trouble, his horse appearing to drift right and cause Skelton on Langer Dan to switch, Skelton momentarily stopping riding as he manoeuvred his horse around Impair Et Passe.
As all three battled on towards the line the post came just in time for Impair Et Passe who idled slightly in front and allowed Bob Olinger to get within a nose, Langer Dan a short head away in third.
A lengthy inquiry eventually found in Townend’s favour and the jockey was understandably relieved to hear the outcome. “You’re never confident going into a stewards’ inquiry and the distances were so short, but we got a fair hop of the ball, they analysed everything and you wouldn’t get away with much with the cameras that we have nowadays!”
Owner Simon Munir was also a happy man on hearing the officials confirm the result. “The photo was nerve-racking and then there was a never-ending stewards’ inquiry!” he said. “For me, obviously I’m biased, but being as objective as I can be, I can’t see he did anything wrong.”
The win drew Willie Mullins a little closer to his main rivals, Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton, in the UK trainer’s championship but he admitted that he needs to win Saturday’s Grand National to be in with a realistic chance of winning the title. However, he has every chance of doing so with eight runners representing him in the line-up, several of whom have leading chances and it all adds another extra dimension to the National.
