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Anyway back to Aintree, the whole meeting was sponsored by Martell (producers of fine cognac). Here are the highlights.

Aintree - Thursday April 1. Going: fast side of good

• 2:00 Gd2 Long Distance Hurdle (transferred from Ascot). A slow race, Barry Geraghty was always alert to this on Iris's Gift 94. Royal Rosa has a turn of foot and is flattered to finish so close. Though will pencil in 143 for the future. Would like to see a similar race as a permanent part of the meeting. Hopefully its status and prize money will be elevated to Grade 1 in time. As part of the change would like to see the 20f Aintree Hurdle reduced to 2 Miles.
• 2:35 Grade 2 Chase. First Gold 128 set a decent gallop in the Gold Cup but went slower here. This set the race up for the speedier Tiutchev 133, who stamina was never troubled. Hand Inn Hand's Ascot win was flattering. Fondmort had a hard race at Cheltenham.
• 3:10 Gd2 4yo Novices' Hurdle (why a novice race, do we want to prevent French horses, who may have won before last May, from participating?). Another messy race with a slow early gallop. Al Eile 111 showed it has a turn of foot. Made in Japan 113 in coming second showed that it is more than a potential 3 miler. Cherub and Adopted Hero (needs soft ground) will need further. Tusk was restrained (no need in this case) but saw plenty of daylight on the outside, pulled hard, dropped out and then ran on again. If it learns to settle will be a better prospect. Arkle winner Well Chief used to front run and now is held up. Would be tempted to put Tusk on the same path. Though its Sandown victory suggests that it will have the stamina for further in time.
• 3:45 Fox Hunters. Forest Gunner 125+ apart from nibbling the turf at the second jumped well and was given a fine ride by Carrie Ford. It did not appear to be inconvenienced by the fast ground despite a record of performing well with give. I would consider participation in the Beecher Chase next November after this. Sikander A Azam 116 came from behind to take second. Gun'N Roses II 109 was continualy losing ground at the fences. It would have been happier on soft ground. Likely to be trained for this race again.
• 4:20 Grade 3 Handicap Chase. Tidour 152 won the race of the day in fine style. Stable companion, Duke Of Buckingham 128+, set the race up with a strong gallop. Tidour was held up on the inside, never putting a foot wrong. Despite travelling easily Tom Doyle sensibily waited till after two out to lead and put the race beyond doubt in a few strides. This is a race suited to novices' and Tidour is clearly one of the best twmo milers this year. Will have to penicl in 156 for the future. Armaturk 149 conceding 13lb ran up to its best just holding off stable companion St Pirran 142+. Simply Gifted 131 ran well enough. Ei Ei 137 put in a time commensurate with its mark. Golden Alpha 125 at ten, is not as good as last year which is why it did not win at Haydock. Ground Ball 120+ would have found the ground too lively.
• 4:55 Listed Handicap Hurdle. A slow race saw Zibeline 89 come from behind to win. Will have to pencilin 134 for the future providing the ground is fast. Unleash threatened to vwin this from two out but had no answer to the winners challenge on the flat. It may have needed this. Will pencil in 140 for next time, once again with fast ground. Gin Palace, saw too much daylight on the outside and never settled.
• 5:30 Grade 2 Novices' Hurdle. Yet another messy race. Garde Champetre 96 was never far away and had sufficient pace to hold on after taking the lead after two out. Monet's Garden is the dark horse of the race. Yet to put in a decent time though obviously has ability. Will pencil in 132 for now. Inglis Drever did not get a run. It kept on so well to finish a close fourth, that it may well have gone close had Graham Lee not been so ready to accept defeat.

Aintree - Friday April 2. Going: Good. Fast side of good National Course.

• 2:00 Handicap Chase. A fine positive ride by Paul Carberry saw Lord Of The River 125 outstay his rivals. Midland Flame 122 would have preferred faster ground, there was some rain overnight. Same applies to Un Jour A Vassy 114. Turgeonev 138 put in a fair effort over 3m. Gunther McBride 112 never looked happy. Sir Frosty 103 was never nearer, slower ground and/or further would have suited.
• 2:35 Grade 2 Novices Hurdle. A fine run by relatively unexposed Royal Shakespeare 134, to collar Contraband 134 near the line. The fact that it rained overnight did not help the runner up, neither did the pacemaking of Bold Bishop's stable companion, Your Advantage. Fleet Street 126 probably found the track too sharp. Fool On The Hill 124 put in its best hurdles time. Steppes of Gold 123 did not have the pace. Bold Bishop 116 who ran well at Sandown on heavy, found the conditions to quick and should have been stepped upto 20f. Its hurdling fell apart when put under pressure. It is capable of better as is Green Tango.
• 3:10 Grade Melling Chase. My worries about Moscow Flyer 140's jumping in a slow race were not founded here. The time though not great was reasonable thanks to the pacemaking Cenkos and then Isio 128, who basically helped to set the race up for the comfortable winner. Native Upmanship 115 has not put in a decent time this year. It really should have been more positively ridden to test the stamina of its two miling rivals. Le Roi Miguel still had every chance when falling 5out. In reality the race had not truly started at that stage.
• 3:45 Topham Chase. Cassia Heights 117 getting an excellent ride from Jim Culloty led on the flat to win a close contest from Longshanks 123 (stayed on well), Scotmail Boy 116, Flinders Chase 119, Young Whack 121 and Montifault 122. Had Joly Bey (151) stayed on its feet four out it most probably would have won comfortably. The jump was not poor it was a case of travelling too easily in my opinion. I imagine it will now be trained for the 2005 National. Would have to pencil in 157. Mr Bossman 123 looked sure to feature in the finish following Joly Bey's departure but went wrong soon after.
• 4:20 Grade 1 Novices' Hurdle. A excellent race that saw Accipiter 146 "needs soft ground" put in a good staying performance to hold off the renewed challenge from Grey Report 145. The latter is likely to have its attentions turned to novice chasing next season. If it could be taught to be held up early would have scope for further improvement. it certainly did not fold after being headed here. Champagne Harry 135 put in a fair effort. Eric's Charm 130 had a hard race last time. Patriarch Express 129 showed that it is a useful animal when the ground is fast enough. Sixo 128 put in its best hurdles' effort. Cornish Rebel 115 was never looking happy. The ground may have been too quick. It is not one to trust at a short price on this showing, however.
• 4:55 Grade 2 Novices' Chase. Simply Supreme 139+ was gifted the race following the falls of Rule Supreme and Royal Emperor. It still had to get round which it did without problem. Being reunited with Richard McGrath helped most certainly. The fact that the ground was not slow here did not matter as most contenders would have been happier with give. Would not consider stable companion Royal Emperor a poor jumper. The pace was probably not quite fast enough for it. The fact that See You Sometime fell ahead of it was probably a contributory factor in it being a distraction.
• 5:30 Listed Handicap Hurdle. A fairly decently run race saw His Nibs 134 beat Keepatem 129 with fine efforts from Strong Project 128, Legal Lunch 117+, Ollie Magern 127 and Galileo (Pol) 136. Would have rated His Nibs higher following its Cheltenham run but for anticipating its ability too early in its career. The lack of a positive ride in modestly run races did not help. Willie John Daly was going as well as any when falling at the sixth.

Aintree - Saturday April 3 Going: Good (easing on soft side). National Course: Good.

• 1:45 Listed Handicap Hurdle. Fundamental 105 went too fast but did burn off most of the opposition, had it not rain may have won. Puck Out 115 basically stayed on well to win this. Will pencil in 125 for 20f. Demi Beau 118 had a chance when falling at the last. The probably had almost scuppered its chances. Will now be punished wiothout earning any money.
• 2:20 Grade 1 Novices' Chase. A fine win from Well Chief 155, held up in a race that was run at a decent pace from the start. It used to be a front runner but has improved for being held up. Thisthatandtother 149 did not juimp as well as it had been doing prior to the dismal Arkle effort but this was more encouraging. Mister McGoldrick 142 continues to improve. It would have appreciated the easier ground here. Bonus Bridge 131, Emperors Guest 128 and Palua 128 performed well enough. Venn Ottery 123 was not given a hard time here. The rain was against it.
• 2:55 Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. Slow early gallop. Low ratings best to consider this as a two mile race. Rhinestone Cowboy 135 had improved on the clock every race prior to this slow event. The rain was a godsend, it showed here that it would have the speed for a Champion Hurdle granted some give in the ground. Rooster Booster 133 led at the last but had probably used up its reserves by pulling too hard early on. 2 miles in a strongly run affair is necessary. Sporazene was a disappointment. A hard race only 16 days earlier is probably the reason, they did not go fast enough and it weakened too early to use stamina as an excuse.
• 3:45 Grand National. Not for the first time many of the fancied horses departed from the race too early to make any impact. These include; Shardam 3rd fence (poor jumping, did not like the way it ran down Beechers before jumping it), Jurancon II 4th (jumping, did not impress, seemed to be taking off too early at its fences. Tv coverage was poor.) Akarus 6th Beechers' (had jumped well was hampered by the riderless Shardam as it was jumping), Bindaree 6th (hampered by Blowing Wind then had the riderless Akarus (I believe) to contend with on the other side. Carl Llewellyn had no chance), What's Up Boys 6th (followed Bindaree into the same trap and had no chance of escape). Risk Accessor 6th (hampered by faller on landing Seamus Durack could not defy gravity). Plenty of talent there it would not have been unreasonable to imagine at least one of those horses actually making the frame. Hedgehunter 127's jumping was a delight to watch it was in the front rank till departing at the last. Chased along by the 2m horses Alcapone and Puntal the pace quickened markedly approaching Beechers' on the first circuit. So fast were they travelling that eventual winner Amberleigh House 134, down the field, would have been in the lead at the 13th, in the previous year's race. The pace slowed down slightly over the first few on the second circuit but picked up again approaching Beechers' for the second time. Was this a deliberate tactic? Apart from Hedgehunter, the principals now were Clan Royal 130 who was jumping superbly looking all over the winner and Lord Atterbury 124, folowing these over ten lengths behind were Bear On Board then Monty's Pass 128 and the winner. Just behind these had been Le Coudray going well enough to have made fourth at least but it departed at Beechers' (22nd) having hit the top of the fence. The front three slugged it out , the pace was relentless. Lord Atterbury was jumping lower, hitting the fences. Mark Bradburne though keeping firmly in the saddle, every length it lost was made up. At the 26th Clan Royal made its first mistake, it recovered, Liam Cooper did lose his whip though. The front three crossed the Melling Road after the 28th, Lord Atterbury appeared to be going well. Of the chasers only Amberleigh House had a hope but was still over twelve lengths behind. Graham Lee was not showing any signs of pressure. Bear on Board began to drop out from the Canal Turn (24th).
  
  Despite the furious gallop no sign of faltering, yet. The long run between fences 28 and 29 (just over 3f) only took a second longer than last year. At this fence it was Clan Royal who went on. Liam Cooper slapping the horse with his bare hands to encourage it. There is less than a furlong between the 29th and the 30th. Last year Monty's Pass covered it in 13.7secs. The front three were now rolling. Clan Royal tail swishing staggered on towards the last, Lord Atterbury was wobbling. Hedgehunter had cracked it was falling behind the front two. This year it took 15.5secs. They were slowing quickly. Clan Royal barely able to jump crashed over the last. Somehow managing to keep its feet. It lost around a length in momentum. Cooper urged it on. Behind an exhausted Hedgehunter crashed out at this last. Lying on the ground gulping huge breaths it was probably grateful that its race was over. Passing it on the outside, that is taking the shortest route to the finish was Graham Lee on the winner. Ten lengths down the pressure was now being applied. Clan Royale three lengths up on Lord Atterbury was heading towards the Chair. Cooper realising was what happening dragged his mount to the the right on a sharp course for The Elbow. The front two almost collided as Clan Royal got back on course. Despite being driven by Liam Cooper his mount has lost its lead. On the outside Amberleigh House was less than two lengths down and gaining. Gamely Clan Royal responded to his rider's urgings but it was to no avail. Almost as if in slow motion Amberleigh House led roughly halfway between The Elbow by the line it was three lengths up. Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury staggered over the line as if drunk. It was another 7secs before Monty's Pass came in to claim fourth place just ahead of the staying on Spot Thedifference 103 and gallant Smarty 101. On my figures the ground was slightly faster than last year. The winning time was marginally quicker. To emphasize how much they slowed down at the finish following a much stronger gallop mid-race here are my times for the first three home from the last to the line. Amberleigh House 41.8sec Clan Royal 45.0 and Lord Atterbury 45.5 . There is no doubt in my mind that Clan Royal was unlucky not to win. It lost a minimum of three lengths, probably four by almost taking the wrong course. To add to that Graham Lee must have saved at least a length by taking the course he did at the last. The winner did not cross the line a fresh horse, it was also tired. In defeat last year it actually only took 38.8 seconds to finish from the last. The winner Monty's Pass took 36.8 and the second, Supreme Glory, who in my opinion was given too conservative a ride, actually finished in 35.7 seconds. Amberleigh House won because it was given a great ride by Graham Lee. He did not panic, knew those in front had gone too fast and judged his challenge to perfection. Am I am only able to give the horse the same rating as last year, ie 134 because to do so, would mean making the ground slower than it actually was. There is the evidence of the previous two days. Also the amount of detioration following the rain as evidenced by the racing on the Mildmay Course. It is a pity that the horses mentioned earliest in this piece did exit early (apart from possibly Risk Accessor) because all of those horses were capable of staying on well, off this fast gallop. It would have added an additional dimension to the result in terms of recognised ability. I do appreciate that the first three went too fast. If they had been ridden with more restraint earlier on it is probable that they would have recorded a five second quicker time. Will therefore pencil in ratings allowing for an extra stone to Clan Royal (144) and Hedgehunter (141). In respect of Lord Atterbury, it has had a far from ideal preparation. I will pencil in a figure of 146 for next year as that was the figure I had originally in mind for this year after last. I am sure that the mistakes that crept in towards the end of the race were down to tiredness rather than jumping ability. How they all fare next season will to some extent depend on the handicapper. The ability to get round this course is vital. As for the likes of Blowing Wind, Bramblehill Duke, Bounce Back and Shardam would not like to see them in the field next year. It is hard enough to get a horse ready to be at its best for a race of this importance, without having "unguided missiles" running around or not running around as the case may be to knock your horse out of the race through no fault of its own. Accidents will happen it is a part of racing but having horses refuse early in a race is a sign that the horse does not like the fences. If a horse falls three times in one race that should be an indication that it can not cope. If a horse is inclined to run down a fence when loose it is a hazard to others. It is loose probably because it can not handle the fences. Asking a such a horse to qualify for the National by running successfuly for a minimum distance,say a circuit, in the Beecher Chase for example would enable requalification. It is not a hardship.
• 4:35 Novices' Handicap Chase. The pace set by Our Armageddon 134 and Jardin de Beaulieu was too furious and set the race up nicely for the easy winner Keltic Bard 143. The Bandit 124, ran out a respectable second, it did not have the pace of the winner. Polar Red 134 who would have been happier over a shorter trip, did not run badly.
• 5:10 Gd2 National Hunt Flat. This race was slowly run as usual. I would reduce the distance to 12f to enourage a decent gallop from the start. If punters are expected to fund racing it is not enough that they should lose. They are entitled to see a proper race for their money. Diamond Sal 66 came from off the pace to win. The ground right against the stand rail may have been quicker, therefore will not get too excited. Will pencil in 95+ for her and 100 for Young Scotton. The slow early pace here was in stark contrast to Rebel Rhythm's debut victory at Wetherby and that was on slower ground . Can not write it off as this defeat was anticipated. Flying Falcon is capable of setting a decent gallop and making the frame at least but never showed.