Impaire Et Passe got the Grand National meeting at Aintree under way for Willie Mullins with a neat success in the EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase.
Ridden by Paul Townend as a 9-4 chance, the seven-year-old – winner of last year’s Aintree Hurdle at this meeting – came into the fixture a fresh horse having skipped the Cheltenham Festival.
He travelled well throughout and after Harry Fry’s Gidleigh Park stood off one too far in the latter stages, took over perhaps sooner than liked. But he had plenty in hand, despite Gidleigh Park gamely sticking to his task, for a length-and-a-quarter success.
Nicky Henderson’s Arkle winner Jango Baie was sent off the 6-4 favourite, but he was always slightly playing catch up and try as he might he was another short head back in third.
Mullins said: "It was very good. The extra half-mile and the cheekpieces seemed to suit him and I think the fast pace seemed to suit him as well, so everything went according to plan.
"It was a trouble-free round and from my point in the stands, I didn’t see any mistakes, so he did it well.
"Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede, owners) were very keen to have a team to come to Aintree (in preference to Cheltenham), so that suited me fine."
Henderson said of Jango Baie: "The other two hadn’t gone to Cheltenham so he’s done very well to go and do that.
"He’s come home strongly, like Cheltenham. I think we’ll nearly be starting next year over three (miles).
"We had him in the three-miler and it was a toss-up between the two races, it was as close as tossing a coin which race we went in.
"He’s an exciting horse, you’ve all seen him, he finishes well every time, he comes home very strong. He just hits a little flat spot which leaves him with a bit to do, but while at Cheltenham he was flat out all the way, at least he travelled today.
"I think he’s done really well as that had to be a hard race at Cheltenham. We’ll just have to see with the others as the week goes on, they’ve all been there and run well. I’m not panicking – yet!
"He might well be a King George horse."
Gracchus De Balme was a very game winner of the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters Chase at Aintree.
Ridden positively throughout by Huw Edwards, the nine-year-old looked beaten when he was passed by Dan Skelton’s Jet Plane after the last.
It was to his immense credit that the 22-1 chance battled back and went on to win by a length. Lifetime Ambition was third with former classy hurdler and chaser My Drogo fourth.
Sans Bruit, back down to the exact same mark off which he won the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase 12 months ago, repeated the dose.
Last year he was ridden from the front by Bryony Frost and this time around, with Frost now riding in France, it was Paul Nicholls' stable jockey Harry Cobden doing the steering.
While Gunsight Ridge gave his supporters brief hope, Cobden kicked again two out and went away to win by four and a half lengths from Calico, a fourth second on the afternoon for Dan Skelton.
Seo Linn (15-8 favourite), not seen since winning at Cheltenham in November, provided top Flat jockey Billy Lee with a winner at the Grand National meeting in the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' bumper.
Paddy Twomey had kept his five-year-old fresh and she showed that in the early stages, racing keenly.
Having cruised into the lead, she then had to be brave to see off La Conquiere by half a length.
Twomey said: "She’s a nice filly and we kind of waited (after Cheltenham) as we could only run in one more bumper and we thought this would be a good race. It’s great it worked out.
"I think she’ll be a good filly on the Flat. There’s every chance she’ll start off in a maiden and go through the grades. There’s a good staying programme there for her and we’ll see how we go.
"She’s grown up with racing. She was a little bit fractious at Cheltenham, but she’s learning as she’s going and she’s improving."
