Thursday 9 April 2015 20:52, UK
A review of the rest of Thursday's action from Aintree, where On The Fringe completed an impressive double.
On The Fringe (5/2 favourite) gave Nina Carberry a dream outing over the Grand National fences when posting a stylish success in the Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree.
In a race which saw a fair number of casualties, an ice-cool Carberry delivered the well-supported 5-2 favourite with a perfectly-timed run to become the first horse since Double Silk back in 1993 to win both the Cheltenham and Aintree hunter chases in the same season.
Any chance of a repeat victory for Warne and Sam Waley-Cohen ended early on with the pair coming to grief at the first, while a fence later Tartan Snow departed.
The field were taken along early on by Bound For Glory, with both Ockey De Neulliac and Pacha Du Polder kept close to the leader's heels.
With little change through the majority of the race, it was not until the run to the penultimate fence where Pacha Du Polder moved into a clear lead.
Although in the driving seat, the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old was merely a sitting duck for Enda Bolger's strong-travelling On The Fringe, who in a matter of strides after the last moved up on his shoulders before taking matters up around the elbow and going on to score by three and three-quarter lengths.
Carberry, who will ride First Lieutenant in the National on Saturday, said: "I was just a passenger, he was loving it.
"It's a great training performance again to get him back here in the same type of form and he travelled like a dream.
"I had loads of room on the outside because I knew if I could get him round I'd be good enough."
Bolger said: "She just had a plan in her head to sit fifth or sixth and keep out of trouble.
"It doesn't always work out like that, but it did today.
"He's always been a good jumper and some day he could run in the La Touche Cup (at Punchestown) as he's good over the banks as well.
"I'm pleased another Carberry has won over these fences after Tommy and Paul."
When asked about the National in future, Bolger said: "The boss and Frank (Berry) will have a chat about future plans, I'm easy to go in either direction but I'd say keep him going at what he's good at for the time being."
A switch back to the Flat could be on the agenda for Taglietelle after he completed a fine afternoon for trainer Gordon Elliott when getting the better of a thrilling finish in the Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle.
Plenty held chances over the final flight of the extended three-mile Grade Three event, but it was to be the 7/1 shot who prevailed when showing a willing resolve under Paul Carberry to floor favourite Call The Cops by a head, having come from almost last to first in the final half-mile.
Elliott, who also struck with Clarcam earlier on the card, said: "I'd say he only just gets the trip, but he was given a great ride by Paul and we're delighted. We were worried about him going up 5lb for the last day, but it's worked out.
"We had a great day at Cheltenham and a great day today. We might get him ready for something at Royal Ascot."
Bargain buy Surf And Turf finally hit the jackpot after a number of placed efforts with a deserved victory in the Betfred Red Rum Handicap Chase.
Picked up by trainer Kevin Frost for just £3,000, the nine-year-old defied a 165-day absence to land the two-mile contest and bring to an end three consecutive second-place finishes.
Settled in mid-division by Brian Hughes, the 33/1 chance moved into contention after the second-last. Hitting the front on the approach to the last Surf And Turf pulled clear up the run in to win going away by a length and a half.
Frost said: "It's a big thrill for such a small yard like ours. We've got six horses and that's our ninth winner. I'm lost for words a little bit.
"He's done us proud this horse. I picked him up cheaply and he was bought as a horse that might win a seller!
"He's done nothing but improve and he's had his winter holiday as he's a quick ground horse.
"He was quite fit for his first run back, but I didn't expect him to win like that."
