Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle report: Anniversary jy for All Yours
Thursday 9 April 2015 15:11, UK
All Yours sprang a 16/1 surprise for Paul Nicholls in the Grade One Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.
Ridden by stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, the chestnut came with a strong run after the final flight to beat Devilment by three-quarters of a length, with Bristol De Mai a further half-length back in third.
The disappointment of the race was odds-on favourite Hargam, who moved well under A P McCoy on the outside of the field but failed to pick up in the straight and couldn't lay down a challenge.
The winning trainer told Racing UK: "He's always been a good horse and Sam was adamant he would go well today.
"Another summer of grass will do him really good, he'll mature and he'll be a really good hurdler next year."
The field were taken along in the early stages by Starchitect and Ruby Walsh, with Irish raider Hostile Fire keeping close attention.
As the latter was burnt off rounding the home turn, Devilment, who had raced handily, moved up on the hind quarters of the long-time leader at the third-last. It was at this point that Hargam came under a strong ride from McCoy.
Over the last Devilment moved into a clear advantage but was soon tracked through by Bristol De Mai, with Hargam well and truly treading water.
A mistake at the last did not halt the momentum of Devilment with him battling on alongside Bristol De Mai, but although the pair looked to have the race between them, a power-packed Twiston-Davies ensured the Nicholls-trained runner sailed past the pair of them.
All Yours, whose only previous victory came in a maiden hurdle at Taunton in February, was bouncing back to winning ways after a strong-finishing fifth in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nicholls said: "If you look at the ground he made up at the end of the Fred Winter it was unbelievable, he stayed on up the hill. The track and the ground suited him today and he's just showed us what we always believed in him.
"He's definitely not a chaser, he's a hurdler. There's no real plan, today was the day but he should be an exciting horse for next season and the future. When he's had a summer's grass he'll improve enormously."
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![Horses and riders on the gallops early morning, ahead of the Grand Opening Day of the Crabbies Grand National Festival]()
Image: Horses and riders on the gallops early morning, ahead of the Grand Opening Day of the Crabbies Grand National Festival -
![Racegoers arrive for the Grand Opening Day of the Crabbies Grand National Festival]()
Image: One suspects these racegoers' preparations may have begun at a similar hour -
![A female racegoer wearing a deerstalker hat]()
Image: The spring weather can be notoriously unreliable but a deerstalker hat covers all options -
![A racegoer writes a message on a board for jockey Tony McCoy]()
Image: A racegoer writes a message on a board for jockey Tony McCoy. Will they wipe it down at the end of each day? -
![Tony McCoy is installed into the Grand National Legends Wall of Fame along with Ian Balding]()
Image: The Champion Jockey is installed into the Grand National Legends Wall of Fame along with Ian Balding -
![Racegoers place their bets]()
Image: A picture paints a thousand words.............. -
![Clarcam ridden by Ruby Walsh clears the final fence to win The One Magnificent City Manifesto Novices' Steeple Chase,]()
Image: Clarcam and Ruby Walsh clear the final fence to win the One Magnificent City Manifesto Novices' Steeple Chase -
![Liverpool Footballer Glen Johnson talks on his phone]()
Image: Celebrity watch! Liverpool footballer Glen Johnson snapped on his phone, is it his bookie or his agent with an offer of Champions League football? -
![Hostile Fire leads the field during the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle]()
Image: Hostile Fire leads the field during the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle -
![All Yours (red hat centre) goes on to win the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle Race]()
Image: All Yours (red hat centre) goes on to take the honours and spring a surprise -
![Runners and riders as they head around the second lap of the Betfred Bowl Chase]()
Image: Bottoms up! The field head out for the second circuit of the Betfred Bowl Chase -
![Silviniaco Conti ridden by jockey Noel Fehily clears a fence on the way to winning the Betfred Bowl at Aintree]()
Image: Silviniaco Conti leads them home to reclaim his crown -
![Silviniaco Conti, ridden by Noel Fehily, clears the second last fence on his way to victory in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree]()
Image: It's another winner for champion trainer Paul Nicholls as his top three-miler relishes the return to Liverpool -
![Jezki clears the final flight to win the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle]()
Image: Jezki clears the final flight in the Aintree Hurdle, but Arctic Fire isn't so accurate..... -
![Jezki (R) clears the last as Ruby Walsh riding Arctic Fire falls]()
Image: .....and takes a crashing fall -
![Jezki]()
Image: Tony McCoy appears to check the big screen -
![Jezki, ridden by Jockey Tony McCoy, wins the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle]()
Image: And Jezki is able to coast home to claim the victory -
![On The Fringe (left) ridden by Nina Carberry clears the final fence to win the Crabbie's Fox Hunter Chase at Aintree]()
Image: Owner JP McManus doubles up as On The Fringe wins the Fox Hunters'... -
![...for a delighted Nina Carberry]()
Image: ...for a delighted Nina Carberry -
![Surf And Turf, ridden by Brian Hughes, clears the last fence on his way to winning the Betfred Red Rum Handicap Chase]()
Image: Surf And Turf provides the stable of Kevin Frost with a day to remember -
![Taglietelle (left) clears the last to win the Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle Race from Call The Cops]()
Image: Taglietelle continues the food based theme when reeling in Call The Cops -
![Racegoers celebrate during the Grand Opening Day of the Crabbies Grand National Festival]()
Image: And almost everyone's got a smile on their face after a thrilling day. I wonder if he backed Call The Cops?
Twiston-Davies was unshipped after the line, but no harm was done.
He said: "He stumbled and I went over his ears and he kicked me up the backside, but I'll let him off.
"I was worried that we'd gone to the Fred Winter and he could be a little bit tired, we got tempted by his handicap mark but he ran well there and he's won here, so it's great.
"It's great to get on the board early on and a great bit of training by the boss."
Nicholls added: "Sam is riding with so much confidence now, it makes a huge difference. Everybody likes him and that is a big plus.
"We'll try and have a few winners in the summer to try and help him be champion, but I'm sure he'll pick up a lot of rides for other people, too."
John Ferguson said of the second: "We're pleased with him - he's almost done everything right. We can't complain. He's run a blinder, but he's just been caught.
"I would think he will stay hurdling next year. He doesn't have that much scope to jump a fence, so we won't be rushing him into that.
"That'll be it for the season now - he'll have a nice holiday."
Nigel Twiston-Davies said of the third: "I'm delighted. He ran really well and wasn't beaten very far. It's a shame he didn't win, but it was a good run. He won't run again this season."
