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Two Grade 1 races in three weeks.  The initial plan to come to Aintree was put together when it looked like the field at Punchestown would be a bit special.  Unfortunately with the 1-2-3 from Cheltenham, the 2nd in the Albert Bartlett and two Cheltenham handicap winners in opposition, in some ways the Aintree race ended up looking higher quality than the World Hurdle.

That aside, Oscara Dara seemed really well and we all felt that if he repeated his Cheltenham form and we got a truly run race, that we could get a decent result.

Aintree on Grand National Day – I have to say, I was not sure I would ever be here as a spectator, so to be here as an owner was something else.  Stayed overnight the previous evening in Warrington where we met up with David Carstairs and his family who were the only other owners to make the trip.  After a decent breakfast, it was an early journey to the course.  We decided to get away from the crowds for a while by walking the National course and it was a brilliant experience to get up close and personal with the famous fences.  After arriving at Beechers, the Carstairs clan decided to head back, but Sarah and I pressed on passing the Canal Turn and walking right round the track.

The Liverpool Hurdle was up third on the card, two races before the National and as always seems to be the way on these days, the time flew by and we were off to the pre parade ring.  Oscara Dara seemed very calm and relaxed, obviously he is becoming an old hand at these big occasions.  It was nice to walk down to the paddock with Nicky who was in good spirits.

There was some discussion in the paddock about whether Oscara Dara should force the pace if no one was prepared to lead.  Nicky felt that this would not be a problem, but Barry who was riding Bears Affair, the stables other runner expressed some reservations.  We agreed in the end to wait and see and kept our fingers crossed that American Spin would force the pace!

This proved to be accurate, so our first aim of a truly run race was achieved and Oscara Dara settled well on the inside in third place.  Unfortunately, he started losing places from there over the first circuit and a half and was nearer last than first when the pace increased.  It very quickly became clear that we had reached the end of our season as he was completely unable to go with the acceleration and David eased off and let him come home in his own time once they had jumped the third last.

Very disappointing, but pretty obvious that it was a race too far with David reporting that Oscara Dara had been pretty much flat out throughout the race.  The conversation with Nicky and Sophie was positive with a view to next season however and a resumption of his Novice Chase career.  Before that however it seemed clear that it was time for summer holidays!