See also » My Drogo lives up to his billing
It’s a little bit of a relief. I felt coming here it was nearly his race to lose given the prep he’d had, missing Cheltenham — it’s such an advantage here. We’d always planned to come straight here. To give away a penalty at Kelso, and that form has stood up, gave an indication of what was possible. It’s very exciting to be involved with a horse like him, he’s got it all. The plan was always to go chasing next year, despite the lure of better hurdles. Given his breeding, size and the way he jumps it’s now or never if we want to make him a top-class chaser. For a moment today I was worried we’d run him in the wrong race given how well he was going, but I always felt he’d get two and a half miles. We want to make him a staying chaser — next year he’ll start over shorter, but ultimately he’ll be a staying chaser. Dan Skelton, trainer

Permission was given for Jay Bee Why (IRE) to wear a red hood to the start, be mounted in the chute and go early to post.

Kerry Lee was fined £140 for doubly declaring Ballybegg (IRE) to run in THE EFT SYSTEMS HANDICAP HURDLE RACE at Aintree, and THE BETWAY MERSEY NOVICES' HURDLE RACE at Aintree, and the gelding ran in the former.

The performance of Ballyadam (IRE), which finished fourth beaten by 43 lengths, was considered.

Rachael Blackmore reported that the gelding flattened out after the third last hurdle and, in her opinion, the gelding may be feeling the effects of a long season and Henry de Bromhead reported that the race may have come too soon after Cheltenham.

The Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination, during routine testing of Ballyadam (IRE), failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Following the race, David Bass reported that Llandinabo Lad (GB), which was pulled up, stopped quickly; the Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Nico de Boinville reported that Pipesmoker (FR), which was pulled up, ran too freely.