Impaire Et Passe survives stewards inquiry on day one of Grand National meeting
- Published
There was little to separate the leading trio at the end of the Aintree Hurdle
Paul Townend and Impaire Et Passe survived a stewards inquiry to take victory in the Aintree Hurdle on the opening day of the Liverpool track's Grand National meeting.
The evens favourite beat Rachael Blackmore's mount Bob Olinger and Langer Dan, ridden by Harry Skelton, in a photo finish.
The stewards inquiry was called after interference in the latter stages.
But after deliberations, the result remained unchanged.
Impaire Et Passe appeared to cross Langer Dan's path after the last. Bob Olinger also seemed to drift inwards on the run to the line, leaving Langer Dan sandwiched between them.
Townend's horse, trained by Willie Mullins, won it by a nose from Bob Olinger with Langer Dan a further short head back in third.
"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 Mullins.
"When Paul and Harry crossed after the last hurdle, there was never any interference and I thought it would be hard to change it.
"On balance it was a hard result to change as Paul thought he was idling in front, which is a legitimate excuse."
Earlier, the favourite Gerri Colombe held off the challenge of Ahoy Senor to win the William Hill Bowl.
The 9-4 chance, ridden by Jack Kennedy, finished second in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Gordon Elliott-trained horse jumped into contention at the second last and took the last alongside Ahoy Senor.
He then showed his strength on the run-in to win by half a length.
"Jack said the horse was never happy the whole way, but it shows the guts he has," Elliott told ITV Racing.
"He was probably at the front too soon but he did what he had to do and we are lucky to have him.
"It is all systems go for the Gold Cup next year."
Earlier, there was relief for trainer Nicky Henderson after unbeaten juvenile Sir Gino won the Juvenile Hurdle.
Henderson had a difficult time at Cheltenham with the disappointing performances of several horses leading him to withdraw a number of others, including Sir Gino.
But although Sir Gino made errors at the third-last and second-last, he picked up well on the run-in to win by three and a quarter lengths.
Henderson said: "We knew what we were walking into and while it is a relief, one swallow doesn't make a summer as they say.
"All trainers know what a spell like we've had is like, the problem we had was the timing, unfortunately it was more public than was probably necessary because we literally bumped into Cheltenham."
Amateur rider Derek O'Connor had an impressive win on Its On The Line in the Foxhunters Chase over the Grand National fences - his second win in the race, but first over the modified course.
The horse is trained by Emmet Mullins, the nephew of Willie Mullins and trainer of 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats who will bid to regain his crown on Saturday.
Frost on the mark after lean spell
Bryony Frost guided home the Paul Nicholls-trained Sans Bruit for a comfortable success over the 9-2 favourite Saint Roi in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase.
Frost, 28, admitted afterwards that her lack of recent riding opportunities have had an impact on her.
"There have been parts of the season where it has been like pushing water up the hill, but you can't sit down and cry about it," she said.
"For me there is a frustration when you feel you have so much to offer, but you can only deal with the opportunities you are getting. I'm thankful for everyone they get whether they come in quickly, or months apart, but I try and make the most of them when I get them.
"Today I was given the opportunity by the home team, and Sans Bruit's owners, and it is just fantastic to give them a big winner when they have the confidence to give you that opportunity.
"I'm not riding this Saturday [in the Grand National], and there is frustration of course there is, as you are in the game to win, and you want to ride, and be out there, but there is nothing you can do about it but just work hard."
Frost, who created history in 2019 by becoming the first female jockey to win a Grade One race at the Cheltenham Festival, was backed by Nicholls.
"Bryony probably doesn't get the opportunities she deserves in Britain," he said. "It's hard for her but not just for Bryony, there are lots of good jockeys who don't get all the opportunities.
"Obviously Harry [Cobden] is our first jockey, and I'd encourage her to go to France, as she's suggested, and go from May until October, get rides, we're not going to be busy, and come back in October. It can only be good for her."