Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie went one better at Aintree when taking full advantage of a fall from Impaire Et Passe in the Racing Welfare Bowl.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old was the even-money favourite to end his season on a high, having valiantly chased home Gaelic Warrior in the blue riband at Prestbury Park.
While his jumping was far from perfect for much of the three-mile-one-furlong journey, he was back on the bridle turning for home and produced his best leap of the race two fences from home, the same obstacle at which the Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe came to grief when travelling stylishly.
His exit left Jango Baie and Nico de Boinville out on their own and he passed the post with 16 lengths in hand over Dan Skelton’s gallant veteran Protektorat, who was in turn well clear of the only other finisher Pic D’Orhy. Spillane’s Tower was disappointingly pulled up.
Henderson and De Boinville were gaining swift compensation after odds-on favourite Lulamba unseated his rider in the preceding race, and the Seven Barrows handler said: “Might Bite was second in the Gold Cup and came here to win this. He was a rogue, but this horse isn’t.
“It was tough for Nico, when you have what happened to Lulamba and then have to come straight into another Grade One. To pick yourself up, that’s testament to a Grade One jockey.”
When asked if he had any doubts about turning Jango Baie out again so soon from his Gold Cup effort, Henderson added: “This was the only option really after Cheltenham. We had the extra week week this year. It is always hard, but Henry Main rides him and Lulamba every day at home and I think both of them came here in great shape.
“You couldn’t believe what Gaelic Warrior did at Cheltenham, it was ridiculous. I don’t know which bunch of trees he was hiding behind for the first lap because you’d swear he jumped in somewhere!
“The King George and the Gold Cup are the two obvious races for him (Jango Baie) again next season, they have to be – I can’t see any reason to change. The same horses will be with us and we’ll just have to see, but it’s got to be the same plan I would think.”
Dan Skelton felt incredibly proud of Protektorat in defeat, saying: “For a brief moment it looked like he had them in trouble, but fair play to the younger horse.
“What a horse Protektorat is, that is how you want to live your life, go out and race and love your job as much as he does. To do what he does at his age is phenomenal. I’m very proud of him.
“We’ll give a start next year and see how it goes and if at any point he says he’s had enough we’ll listen to him.
“If we get to the point where we can get to the Fleur de Lys Chase that will be his last run anyway.
“If it rains he can go for the Charlie Hall, if not somewhere else, and then we’ll have a go at Windsor for his final day.”
Brighterdaysahead much the best in Aintree Hurdle
Brighterdaysahead relished the step up in trip to showcase her best once again on Merseyside and secure William Hill Aintree Hurdle glory.
Gordon Elliott’s star mare had secured top honours over this course and distance as a novice in 2024 but has since predominantly raced over shorter where she has been one of the standout performers in the two-mile hurdling division.
After coming off second best in another tussle with Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, she was sent off the 13-8 favourite to gain compensation in the hands of Jack Kennedy and was always towards the fore alongside Potters Charm.
Having led the runners into the home straight and over three flights from home, Dan Skelton’s The New Lion emerged on the scene looking a real danger in the hands of the trainer’s brother, Harry.
However, a costly error at the last put paid to his chances allowing Brighterdaysahead to scoot clear for a two-and-a-quarter-length success in what could turn out to be her hurdling swansong.
Brighterdaysahead ridden by Jack Kennedy on the way to winning the William Hill Aintree Hurdle
Elliott said: “She’s the apple of all our eyes. We’re rebuilding, we’re trying to find a few more of these and in fairness to Michael (O’Leary, owner) he’s investing but it just might take a bit longer.
“I think two and a half miles probably is her trip. I’d say we’re probably going to go chasing, she’s a good mare which is why she can win over two miles.
“She was supposed to go chasing this year, she was entered up but pulled a muscle which is why she didn’t run but she’ll probably go next year.
“I don’t think there’s anything in the Cheltenham thing, she hasn’t won there but she ran a great race in the Champion this year and hopefully the best is yet to come.”
Elliott is leading the race to be champion trainer in Ireland but was winning his second Grade One of the afternoon in the UK, which has likely weakened his hand for the upcoming Punchestown Festival.
“To be honest I’m lucky to be in the position I’m in, I’ve been second to Willie Mullins 13 times now. I think I’m still three or four years off and to be in the same sentence as him is great, but I’m a long way off beating him yet,” said Elliott.
Of The New Lion, Skelton said: “I’m not crestfallen, just a bit frustrated we didn’t get a (good) jump at the last.
“If we’d got a jump at the last and couldn’t get by the winner then fair play. I wish we’d jumped it a bit better and had our fair chance, but that’s sport and it didn’t quite work for us. We’ll dust ourselves down and go again next year.
“He’s run a solid race and he’s a bit happier at that trip. I’m not discounting the fact that he is a good two-miler, but he obviously is a little happier at that trip.
“There are no excuses as he travelled well and jumped great bar the last. Harry felt he had every chance, he stopped short of saying he’d definitely have won as you’re giving Brighterdaysahead 7lb and she’s danced all those dances and knows how to win, but that jump at the last has cost us a chance of winning.
“I think he’s very comfortable at two miles, especially on slow ground against UK opposition. There is a shortage of races over the intermediate trip and maybe he steps right up in trip, I don’t know.
“I said to JP (McManus, owner) ‘I’m sorry we didn’t win you a Grade One this year’ as he is a Grade One horse.
“At the moment we’ll stick to hurdling (next season). We’ll have a bit of a talk about it over the summer and see what everyone fancies doing. It hasn’t crossed my mind to go chasing, but there’s a discussion to be had if everyone wants to have it.
“I feel like we’ve got unfinished business. Next year everyone is a year older, except his year older isn’t too old. Maybe there are lessons to be learned and we go again next year.”
Koktail Divin takes full advantage of Lulamba blunder
Koktail Divin bounced back from defeat at Cheltenham as Lulamba came unstuck in the William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe for Henry de Bromhead, the 3-1 chance raced handily throughout in a field of five, in which Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba was the 1-2 favourite.
However, Lulamba and Nico de Boinville parted company at the 10th fence, and while 22-1 shot Blueking d’Oroux led he had Brown Advisory non-stayer Koktail Divin in his slipstream and it was the latter who pressed on to prevail by two and a quarter lengths.
De Bromhead said: “That’s a great start. Darragh was brilliant on him, I thought they went a real good gallop and he jumps amazing.
“I think he might have been idling a bit and I was starting to get a bit worried, but then he began to pick up again, he was relentless the whole way really.
Koktail Divin ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe on the way to winning the William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase on day one of Aintree
“We really fancied him at Cheltenham over three miles and turning in I thought he looked the winner, but he clearly didn’t get home.
“He won’t go to Punchestown now, I was even a little bit apprehensive bringing him here after Cheltenham. It will be next year when you see him again, maybe at Down Royal in the race for second-season novices.”
Paul Nicholls said of the runner-up, who did his best in rallying against the winner: “It was an unbelievable run considering he made a crucial mistake three out.
“He’s getting better now he’s jumping better, he’s more assured and I think a step up to three miles next year will suit him.
“The only race he could run in before the end of the season is at Sandown, but I’d say he’s done enough.
“Next season I think he’ll improve again.”
Meanwhile, Henderson was left cursing a lack of options after Lulamba finished the race fit and fresh – albeit without De Boinville in the saddle.
He said: “He’s so fresh, but we’ve got nowhere to go have we?
“I didn’t put him in anything at Punchestown because there isn’t a race for him, you’ve only got two miles or three miles.
“He’s as fresh as anything and he actually won the race – he sprinted up the run-in. Unfortunately there wasn’t a jockey on his back.”
Mange Tout reverses form with Selma De Vary at Aintree
Mange Tout refused to be beaten in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.
Trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, the filly was a 5-1 chance as she turned up at the meeting fresh having last been seen in February.
In a field of 10 she was always travelling, and after taking up the lead she fought off a challenge from Triumph Hurdle fourth Selma De Vary (9-4 favourite) – who was one place in front of the winner when they met at the Dublin Racing Festival – to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Elliott said: “I thought Jack gave her a great ride. She was very keen in Leopardstown and we probably rode her to win rather than getting her to settle and it just told.
“It was hard not to take her to Cheltenham because obviously you want as many bullets as you can, but Cheltenham is over now and I’m glad we kept her for here.
“I’d say the flatter track suited her as she’s got that bit of boot. Jack actually said she wasn’t doing a stroke in front, she was very idle.
Mange Tout ridden by Jack Kennedy (second left) wins the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle on day one at Aintree
“She’s a nice mare and she’ll just a fence next year. I’d say that might be her (finished) for this year, as she’s not the biggest girl in the world. We’ll see.”
Jockey Paul Townend said of the Willie Mullins-trained Selma De Vary: “She ran another good race. There was nothing much between her and the winner when they met at Leopardstown and there was very little between them again.”
Adrian Keatley was delighted with Indian River, who outran his odds of 25-1 in third. He said: “It was a good run. We didn’t bring him here just for the sake of it, just like we didn’t take him to Cheltenham for the sake of it, either (finished 10th in Triumph Hurdle).
“We always thought he was a fair horse, even though it looked like we had a bit to find. He was giving the front two 7lb as well.
“He’s had a hard enough campaign considering he had two runs on the Flat over in Ireland, and he’s not the easiest on himself. It bodes well for next season.
“There’s a four-year-old only race at Cheltenham in October, those are the type of races we’ll be looking at. I’ll probably give him a break and then look at a run or two on the Flat first.”
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