A dark shadow eclipsed the sun filled skies on the opening day of the Martell Grand National weekend, with the news that four horses had to be destroyed after sustaining fatal injuries.
Strong Promise and Lake Kariba met their peril in the Martell Cup Chase, Rossell Island was a casualty in the Martell Fox Hunters' Chase which is run over the Grand National fences.
While Architect was put down after suffering spinal injuries when falling at the second last in the Glenlivet Anniversary Novice Hurdle.
Bells Life announced his return to form in fine style when landing the Martell Fox Hunters Chase, but the race was marred when Rossell Island sustained a spinal injury when falling at the first fence.
The David Pipe-trained animal died instantly. A post mortem will be carried out at the Leahurst Veterinary Hostpital.
Winning jockey David O'Meara survived a scare when a loose horse took a sharp turn into the path of the winner when passing the elbow, but 23-year-old O'Meara, a equine science student at Limerick University, steered his mount clear from danger and battled on gamely to record a nine length victory over Secret Bay.
Bells Life was successful around this course in 1997 when landing the John Hughes but pulled up in last year's Grand National.
Carley Lad ran a creditable race having run up front alone for much of the race, only to relinquish his lead after jumping Valentines.
Enda Bolger, winning trainer in this race last year with Elegant Lord, did not enjoy the same fortune this time round as Spot Thedifference finished in eight place having never featured throughout the two mile and six furlong race.
The winner was completing a double for Hobbs but the trainer revealed that the horse almost missed the race because of a foot problem.
"Yesterday morning the horse was on three legs and I rang the owners and told them he couldn't run," he said.
"He had some pus in his near hind and his lass Debbie Thomas was up twice in the night re-poulticing the foot.
"It was only when we took him out at 6am that he was nearly sound and decided to run him." Trainer Charlie Egerton's hopes of landing the Grade 1 Sandeman Maghull Novices' Chase were dealt a premature blow as Decoupage, third in the Arkle last month, made one too many novicy mistakes in the two mile event ending with a crashing fall at the fifth fence.
This paved the way for Cenkos, an good second in the Arkle behind Tiutchev, to power away from the last to record a one and a half length victory over the Noel Meade-trained Frozen Groom.
Paul Carberry, aboard Frozen Groom, was left 3 lengths clear turning for home but had Cenkos in close pursuit. Frozen Groom jumped the second last in front but steered right on landing allowing the quickening Cenkos to head him.
Approaching the last, jockey David Casey produced his mount upsides Carberry and quickened away on landing to record a stylish five-length victory at 7/2.
'I always thought Liverpool was his track rather than Cheltenham and he deserved to win a Grade One,' remarked winning trainer Oliver Sherwood. 'He'll be better suited by softer ground as well.'
There are no immediate plans for the winner and Sherwood added: 'He'll be entered for Punchestown in case it turns soft but he may be put away.'
Cenkos will be kept to two miles for the time being.
'There's no point running him over further until he gets beaten over two,' explained Sherwood.
Casey was delighted with his mount's effort.
He said: 'That was a very good performance. He's been improving all season and has improved since Cheltenham. He has loads of speed and will be even better on the soft.'
Winning jockey David Casey received a four day ban for excessive frequency and force of the whip. The ban takes effect from April 15th -19th .
Ross Moff was the only Irish trained winner of the day when landing the Barton & Guestier Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Paul Carberry.
Carberry, in his first day back riding since injuring himself at Cheltenham, was deputising for a shaken Mick Fitzgerald, who picked up an injury when taking a fall from Architect.
Ross Moff was cruising approaching the last. Carberry popped the Tony Martin-trained gelding over the last and battled gamely up the hill.
Tony Martin indicated the winner may reappear at either the Fairyhouse or Punchestown festivals, with the long term plan to go chasing next year.
Phardante Flyer knocked any doubts about handling the sharp Aintree track firmly on the head when battling gamely in the hands of Richard Johnson to land the opening Barton & Guestier Top Novices' Hurdle.
The winner, who ran a blinder to finish fourth behind Sausalito Bay in the Capel Cure Sharp Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, was kept handy throughout the two mile event.
Phardante Flyer had been tucked in behind front runners Moulouya and race favourite Rodock, but seized the initiative to hit the front when the latter blunder at the fourth last.
The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding was left clear turning for home and remained untroubled until the final flight. Phardante Flyer jumped right at the last but Johnson corrected his mount to steer the 5/1 shot home and hold off the challenge of the fast-finishing Gold Merit by a length-and-a-half.
Rodock, fifth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, had been prominent but hit the fourth last hard and duly feel away from the leaders.
Trainer Philip Hobbs had been hopeful that the horse would come on for his run in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham when he finished fourth.
'His lad Aaron Bateman thought that he'd improved since Cheltenham and this proves that he was right,' said Hobbs.
'We've had the horse since he was an unbroken three-year-old.
'He cracked a bone in his pelvis when he made his debut in the bumper at the Festival and had to have a year off which was probably the making of him.
'If he gets over this race all right he might go to Punchestown but next season he will be going chasing.'
Gold Merit is also likely to embark on a chasing career next season.
'He's had a few problems so we gave him a good rest but he came here fresh and well,' said trainer Steve Brookshaw.
Lord Brex's triumph in the Glenlivet Anniversary Hurdle gifted trainer Philip Hobbs with a memorable opening day treble.
Lord Brex benefited most from chaotic scenes at the second last flight as leader Bounce Back and the well positioned Architect took crashing falls leaving the winner with a clear path to the line.
Architect looked a real threat approaching the second last but the gelding refused to put in the leap that jockey Mick Fitzgerald had asked for. Instead Architect went bundling through the flight consequently suffering severe spinal injuries. The animal was humanely put down bringing the total of fatalities to four for the day.
The win was jockey Richard Johnson's second of the day with the pair battling home for a seven length victory over the Christy Roche-trained High Stakes
The Johnjo O'Neill-trained Radiation was the surprise 12/1 winner of the Chivas Regal Handicap Chase when getting the better of Ashwell Boy and Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase winner Honey Mount by 7 lengths and two-and-a-half lengths respectively.
The Richard Johnson-Philip Hobbs combination were denied a further winner when Bouchasson fell when travelling in front down the back stretch.
