RACING/Aintree:Bouggler came out on top in a thrilling finish to the John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree under Noel Fehily. The 16-1 chance travelled strongly throughout in the opener on Grand National day, and came to join Copper Bleu and Ainama jumping the final flight.
Bouggler and Copper Bleu engaged in a thrilling duel inside the final 100 yards but it was Emma Lavelle’s charge who came out on top by a head.
It was a second victory from just two starts over hurdles for Bouggler having won by 24 lengths at Kempton in February.
Favourite Cape Tribulation travelled well towards the head of affairs for much of the contest but flattened out once the pace quickened in the straight.
Ainama was far from disgraced under Tony McCoy back in third but Micheal Flips and Trenchant were both disappointments.
Kalahari King ran out an impressive winner of the John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase. Beaten by the narrowest of margins in the Arkle at Cheltenham, Graham Lee was much more prominent throughout in this smaller field and never allowed the leaders much rope.
Kalahari King loomed up alongside Made In Taipan and Tatenen before the 9-4 chance scooted clear between the final two fences, going on to win by eight lengths.
Sustained support for Tatenen saw Paul Nicholls’ youngster sent off the 13-8 favourite to atone for his fall in the Arkle.
Solwhit edged out Fiveforthree in a thrilling finish to the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle in the hands of Davy Russell.
Fiveforthree looked the likely winner after he cruised to the front approaching the final flight and jumped the obstacle fluently.
However, Solwhit (6-1) began to reel him in inside the final 100 yards and got on top close home to take the Grade One prize by half a length.
Favourite Al Eile travelled very strongly in search of his fourth success in the race but weakened out of it in the straight to finish a well-held fourth.
Champion Hurdle runner-up Celestial Halo ran as though he had left his race behind at Cheltenham, failing to land any sort of blow when push came to shove.
Lucy Wadham’s mare United ran a mighty race to fill the places, but others to disappoint included Jered and Catch Me.
McCoy received the best possible boost ahead of the Grand National by riding Don’t Push It (9-1) to victory in the John Smith’s Handicap Chase.
In what turned out to be a war of attrition, long-time leader Oakfield Legend had burned off all of his rivals bar the winner and Leading Contender.
For a long time it looked as if Rhys Flint had jumped the rest into submission on Oakfield Legend but McCoy loomed up at the second-last and the result was inevitable thereafter.
The nine-year-old looked a promising sort in his younger days but was winning his first race for over two years and gave Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus their second winner of what has been a mixed week.
Leading Contender plugged on for second three and a half lengths away with Oakfield Legend and According To John next.
AINTREE RESULTS
1.45
1 Bouggler (N Fehily) 16-1
2 Copper Bleu (R Johnson) 4-1
3 Ainama (A P McCoy) 8-1
17 ran
2.15
1 Kalahari King (G Lee) 9-4
2 Tatenen (R Walsh) 13-8 Fav
3 Made In Taipan (D N Russell) 15-2
6 ran
2.50
1 Solwhit (D N Russell) 6-1
2 Fiveforthree (P Townend) 7-1
3 United (D Elsworth) 28-1
16 ran
3.25
1 Don't Push It (A P McCoy) 9-1
2 Leading Contender (T J O'Brien) 20-1
3 Oakfield Legend (R Flint) 25-1
4 According To John (T Scudamore) 6-1
17 ran