On The Fringe completed back-to-back victories in the Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase with another fluent display over the Grand National fences at Aintree.
Successful in the last two runnings of the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham, Enda Bolger's 11-year-old again showed he has no peers in these races.
After Doubledisdoubledat had his nose in front early on with Monkey Kingdom close by, Bound For Glory was in the lead at Becher's Brook but came down shortly after jumping the Canal Turn.
There were quite a few casualties before the race began in earnest but Jamie Codd, replacing the suspended Nina Carberry, was able to negotiate a smooth route to victory.
Dineur pushed On The Fringe until just before the elbow but the 15-8 favourite was too good and strode away to win by eight lengths.
Mendip Express was a length and a quarter back in third.
Codd said: "I'm just so fortunate to be in a position to ride a horse like this, I am very sorry that Nina couldn't ride him today, but it's a bit of luck on my side. He is a brilliant horse and I'm very lucky John Thomas McNamara and Nina Carberry and Enda Bolger have done the groundwork. I'm just lucky to ride him.
"Enda will fill you with confidence. I rode him at Leopardstown just after Christmas and they have all done a brilliant job. I'm only sitting here today as a chance spare ride and I'm lucky to get it."
Bolger said: "His jumping is his forte and he is a joy to train. JT (McNamara) rode him in his early days and Nina happened to miss out today but she will back on board next time.
"He just loves it around here and we thought as a young horse this place would bring out the best in him.
"From his early days he said he is an Aintree horse. He just does it so well. He measures his fences well. That's what an Aintree horse is, a good jumper and a brave horse.
"That's some thrill to go round there and have a ride like that. All credit to Jamie and full marks to him.
"We will get him home. He came out of Cheltenham and had a hard enough race, but three days later he was bouncing back. He will be home tonight and we will see how he is tomorrow morning."
No comments:
Post a Comment