Spirit Son slams rivals in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle
10th April 2011
Barry Geraghty started Grand National day on a high with victory on Spirit Son in the John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.
The Irish jockey, winner of the great race with Monty's Pass in 2003, enjoyed a smooth success on Nicky Henderson's gelding who had finished second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
All too easy: Spirit Son and Barry Geraghty jump the last in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle
Sam Winner made the running on sufferance after no-one appeared to want go on. He led until three out where Drive Time fell.
Spirit Son (3-1) soon took it up and bounded away to score by 13 lengths from the 5-2 favourite Cue Card, who made several mistakes, with Rock On Ruby (9-2) eight lengths away third.
Geraghty said: 'He's a bit of a baby, he's only five. I said to Nicky before Cheltenham that it might just come six months too soon for him but he learned an awful lot from it.
'Just over this longer trip he was able to get into a nice rhythm and he jumped and travelled lovely. He picked up well and he destroyed them at the finish.
'I was going like a winner everywhere.'
Henderson, bagging his first winner of the three-day meeting, said: 'It's taken two days to get there, but we've finally managed it.
'He was good today, Barry said the only thing was probably Cheltenham might have come six months too soon for him.
'I don't know quite what his trip will be but you won't see him again this season.
'We'll see where he is over hurdles just to start with (next season) and it's only just starting to happen for him.'
Cue Card's trainer Colin Tizzard said: 'We were beaten by a very nice horse. Joe (Tizzard, jockey son) had to wake him up a little on the bend, but he stayed on really well.
'That will probably be it for the season. He will go chasing next season and he will be a nice horse over fences.
'We thought he would travel and then pick up, but Spirit Son did that a bit better and he must be a very good horse.'
Daryl Jacob, rider of the third Rock On Ruby, said: 'He ran a bit flat. Maybe he had a hard race at Cheltenham.'
Thrill of the chase: Racegoers shout home their horses at Aintree
Having waited two days to open his account at the meeting, Henderson wasted no time in doubling up when Finian's Rainbow atoned for a near-miss at Cheltenham in the Grade 1 John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase.
Geraghty did not seem to go as fast as he did in the Arkle, reserving a bit in hand for the finish, and he needed to as Ghizao was a stern challenger.
In fact Ruby Walsh might have been going just the better when he ploughed through the second-last fence, losing all chance.
Turning point: Ghizao's penultimate fence blunder allowed Finian's Rainbow to land the Maghull Novices' Chase
He tried gallantly to rally but also met the last wrong which allowed Finian's Rainbow to eventually win by two lengths as the 10-11 favourite.
Owner Michael Buckley was also celebrating the quickfire double.
He said: 'Cheltenham was quite a testing time as I lost a lovely horse (Lush Life) and it was tough to finish second there, although I suppose other than winning finishing second is better than anything else.
'It's still a terrific day and I suppose you would have to take him for the Champion Chase as you wouldn't think he'd want to go further than two miles.
'Things change and some two milers end up going over further, but I'd imagine we'll start him off in one of the good two-mile chases and see how he gets on.'
Paul Nicholls said of Ghizao: 'Ruby said he would have won if he had not made a mistake at the second-last. If he is OK he could go to Punchestown.'
David Pipe said of the third, Dan Breen: 'He ran as well as could be expected, the first two were the form horses, it was a good run from our horse.
'He's had two quick races, but he likes good ground and we came for some prize money and got it. We could keep him going and there are options at Punchestown, Sandown and Ayr.'
Oscar Whisky (6-1) completed a remarkable hat-trick for Henderson and Geraghty when just holding Thousand Stars in the John Smith's Aintree Hurdle.
The Champion Hurdle third, carrying the colours of Ffos Las owner Dai Walters, was always travelling well and jumped into the lead at the fourth-last flight.
He went clear of the field but was all-out at the line to keep Thousand Stars and Katie Walsh at bay by a neck, with Salden Licht third.
Market leaders Peddlers Cross and Henderson's other runner Binocular were well beaten.
Make mine a treble: Geraghty brings home Oscar Whisky to land a Grade 1 double on the day
Geraghty said: 'He's very game. The plan was to track Peddlers Cross but I was quite happy to sit behind Ruby (Walsh, on Celestial Halo).
'He came alive with me down the back and I was happy to just go with it.
'Like Spirit Son he's promised loads. He was fourth in the Supreme last year and third in the Champion this, but he's done it today.'
Henderson said: 'After the first two days I'd half a mind to take them all home because it was awful, but today was the big day of the three and we always knew that.
'Barry said go for the Champion hurdle next year, but he's grown up a lot today and he'll be year older and he might want to go further. The good thing is we've got the whole summer to think about it.
'Binocular was too bad to be true, I think he's better than that. They didn't go a gallop and I expected him to pick up. You know with him when he's not right as he knocks his hurdles and he was doing that today.
'Oscar Whisky won't run again this season and I shouldn't think Binocular will either, but I will have to talk to JP (McManus, owner)."
Thousand Stars' rider Katie Walsh said: 'I love that horse and he gave me a winner at Cheltenham.
'Going to the last I thought I would win, but to be fair to Oscar Whisky he kept pulling out every step of the way.
'On the run-in it might have looked as though as I was going to get there, but I half knew I was never quite going to make it.'
Unfortunately Walsh was given a six-day ban for using her whip with excessive frequency and in the incorrect place.
Willie Mullins, trainer of Thousand Stars, said: 'The thing is now I'm not sure whether to run him over two miles or three miles at Punchestown. He certainly wasn't stopping there.
'I'll have to have a word with Katie.'
Alan King, trainer of the third, Salden Licht, said: 'That was a great run, I couldn't be more thrilled with him.
'The trouble is he is in a bit of no-man's land over hurdles. We may give him a run on the Flat or put him away and school him over fences in the autumn.'
Crowning glory: Prince De Beauchene and Paul Gallagher (right) go on to win the John Smith's Handicap Steeple Chase
Young 5lb claiming jockey Paul Gallagher rode his second winner of the week as Prince De Beauchene came out best in a war of attrition for the John Smith's Handicap Chase.
Having joined trainer Howard Johnson from Ferdy Murphy recently, Gallagher is making a real name for himself and realised the pace wasn't strong enough a long way from home.
Gallagher took up the running going out on to the second circuit and saw off a host of challengers to win.
Rare Bob was still in contention when unseating Bryan Cooper at the second-last, Bensalem looked beaten when a mistake at the same fence ruled him out and Reve De Sivola blundered away his chance at the last.
Over and out: Carrickmines unsits Paddy Brennan the John Smith's Handicap Steeple Chase
The 10-1 winner than held off Categorical after the final fence for a one-and-a-half-length win.
Gallagher, who also won on Silk Drum on Thursday, said: 'His jumping won it for him and he's so quick away from his fences.
'I thought the ground might be a bit too quick for him, but it was his first try at three miles and the extra four furlongs has helped him.
'This has been an unbelievable week. This is what you are in the game for. I grew up dreaming about this and now it's happening.'
Winning owner Graham Wylie said: 'I wasn't sure whether he wanted soft ground at two and a half miles, but he got the three miles well and I think the ground is on the soft side of good as they have must have put a decent amount of water on last night.
'This horse has been coming along all season but I don't know what will happen now. Ayr comes too close for him.
'Aintree is lucky for Howard and for myself. I think that is because it comes later in the season than Cheltenham for the northern horses and that helps as we usually have worse winters up here.
'I have noticed how fast they go at Cheltenham and here, and you really need a good horse and a fit horse to win.'
James Reveley, who partnered the runner-up Categorical, said: 'He is progressing all the time. He travelled well and jumped the fences well and I think this is his best run yet.'
Far Away So Close (14-1) just got the better of fellow Irish raider Jack Cool in a thrilling finish to the John Smith's Handicap Hurdle for Conditional and Amateur riders.
Paul Nolan, saddling his first winner at the Aintree Festival, said: 'He's run very well twice in the Supreme at Cheltenham and we decided to keep him as a novice for this season.
'We used different tactics this time. He jumped well and found plenty off the bridle.
'Mick (Doran) gave him a great ride and the plan now is to go for a two-and-a-half-mile handicap at the Punchestown Festival.'
Gordon Elliott appears to have a smart prospect on his hands in Steps To Freedom (12-1) who had too much speed for Montbazon in the John Smith's Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race.
Paul Carberry was at his ultra-confident best as the five-year-old came from the rear of the field to beat the favourite by two lengths.
'He's a very good horse, he likes good ground and Paul gave him a great ride,' said Elliott.
'We may go for the bumper at Perth and I think he's good enough to win over a mile and a half on the Flat."
