Grand display from Dev at Aintree
Jamie Moore added a second win over the famous Grand National fences to his career tally as Dev put in an exhibition round in the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree.
The 24-year-old has only been back in the plate a fortnight after breaking his ankle in August and followed up Dunbrody Millar’s 2007 Topham success aboard Mick Quinlan’s bold-jumping nine-year-old.
The 14-1 chance was left in a clear lead after Frankie Figg’s departure five out and Moore galvanised his mount along the run-in as Pak Jack laid down a challenge for a length-and-a-half success.
Quinlan said: “That was fantastic. He was going two and a half miles on ground he didn’t like, but we thought we would take a shot and his jumping was everything.
“Now we know he acts around the course we will have to think about bringing him back for the Topham.
“I am also delighted for Jamie as this should give him a great fillip on returning from injury.”
Moore added: “He was very gutsy and found more when the other horse came to him.
“He is a two-miler really so wouldn’t stay in the Grand National in an aeroplane.”
Bible Lord unshipped Timmy Murphy at the fifth fence and the jockey was knocked unconscious for a short time, after which he was taken to Fazakerley Hospital for checks on a sore shoulder, although he was later cleared to return home.
Murphy missed a winning opportunity as William Kennedy replaced him aboard I’moncloudnine (9-2) and provided former rider Neil Mulholland with his first winner at the track as a trainer in the Plastic Design Handicap Chase.
Sitting Tennant rose to the occasion at the scene of his finest hour to break his duck over timber in the Weatherbys Bank Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old was a shock 66-1 winner of the Aintree Bumper at the Grand National meeting for Kate Walton and has since been sold to the powerful Howard Johnson-Graham Wylie partnership.
Jockey Denis O’Regan had the 13-8 favourite in front from the flag fall and his willing partner saw off all comers to collect by six lengths.
The winner was dismounted on crossing the line, and O’Regan said: “He has suffered an overreach but should be fine in a couple of days.
“He had experience so I used that to our advantage and he jumped and travelled well.”
Keith Mercer excelled aboard John Forbes as the 20-1 shot regained the lead to foil the challenge of Sam Lord in the Best Odds Guaranteed At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle.
Mercer, whose mount hit 359-1 in Betfair in-running betting, said: “He got tired but he is all stamina and the more I asked, the more he gave.
“In that ground the one who tries the hardest wins and he definitely tried the hardest.”
Peter Bowen’s Serabad landed John Forbes’ race 12 months ago and the Haverfordwest trainer did not leave Merseyside empty handed this time as Natural Action (5-1) showed just that in the Christmas Party At Aintree Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
