Aintree: Buveur D’Air leaves Limini behind to take Top Novices’ Hurdle

Buveur D'Air showed his resolve for a battle when posting a tenacious success in the Imagine Cruising First In The Frame Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

After finishing third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding went two places better in the Grade One prize on Merseyside.

Held up early on in close proximity to favourite Limini, the 11-4 shot travelled smoothly into the extended two-mile contest under Noel Fehily before going after leader Petit Mouchoir after two out.

With little to separate the pair over the last, it was only inside the final 100 yards that the five-year-old forged ahead before defeating the Willie Mullins-trained runner by a neck.

Party Rock sprang a 33-1 surprise when making it third time lucky in the Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle.

A faller two out when in with every chance two years ago, Party Rock was sixth 12 months ago and finally managed to lift the prize after only returning to action after 11 months on the sidelines.

Sean Quinlan had the Jenny Candlish-trained nine-year-old close up right from the start, before he moved smoothly into the lead two out.

Champagne At Tara briefly looked a danger, but Party Rock galloped all the way to the line to score by five lengths, with Starchitect a head away third. Sky Khan was fourth.

“We thought he was jinxed coming here the last couple of years, so it’s just fantastic. He’s one of those horses that just gets under your skin. He’s fabulous,” said the in-form Candlish.

Native River ground his rivals into submission to post a game front-running success in the Betfred Mildmay Novices' Chase.

The six-year-old chalked up his third victory of the campaign — and a first in Grade One company — when going one better than in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time out.

Making use of his assured stamina, Richard Johnson wasted no time in getting Colin Tizzard’s runner to the head of affairs in the three-mile-one-furlong event.

Although looking a sitting duck approaching the third-last, with Blaklion, Un Temps Pour Tout, Henri Parry Morgan and Ballyalton all still to play their hands, the 11-2 winner was in no mood to surrender his lead.

While most in behind failed to find as much as seemed likely, Native River kicked on again on the run down to last, and after clearing it with another bold leap, he powered up the run-in to score by three lengths from Henri Parry Morgan.

Eastlake made it third time lucky over the Grand National fences after ending a spell in the doldrums to claim the Crabbie's Topham Chase.

With only two completed starts to his name this season, the Barry Geraghty-ridden 10-year-old showed what he can do on a going day when carrying the famous green and gold silks of his owner JP McManus to glory in the Grade Three handicap.

In a race which saw favourite Bishops Road depart at the first, it looked as though last year’s runner-up Fairy Rath was going to go one better, having seemingly got the measure of most of his rivals with the jumping complete, having taken the field along for much of the race.

Although the 22-1 winner travelled much the stronger he took time to warm to the task and it was only inside the final 100 yards of the two-mile-five-furlong affair that Jonjo O’Neill’s charge edged on to take a four-length success.

Ryan Hatch claimed another notable victory in what has been a breakthrough season after steering Ballyoptic to glory in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

The 3lb claimer, who triumphed at Cheltenham aboard Blaklion in the RSA Chase and Flying Angel in the Imperial Cup, enjoyed more big-race success with a narrow victory aboard the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained winner.

It looked as though Patrick Mullins, deputising for Ruby Walsh, who had suffered two consecutive falls on the day, had timed his run right aboard favourite Bellshill, after producing him to join in with the action at the head of affairs approaching two out.

Although fluffing his lines at the second-last the Willie Mullins-trained favourite still looked the likely winner, holding a comfortable advantage over the last.

However, as Bellshill wandered late on it allowed Hatch to galvanise another head of steam from Ballyoptic (9-1) to get up by a neck.