Champion jockey Tony McCoy enjoyed the perfect warm up for tomorrow's Grand National when riding Northern Starlight to victory in the John Hughes Trophy Chase but tragically the race was marred by yet another death to a horse running over the Aintree fences.
The Adrian Maguire-ridden Toni's Tip was a fatality after crashing through the first fence and breaking a leg on landing. The horse was quickly and humanely put down. Even Flow was a faller at the same fence but got to his feet shortly after. Neither jockey was injured.
Today's death brings the total to five, after only two days of racing. The number of fatalities at the festival meeting has risen to 26 since 1995, and 57 since 1979.
Northern Starlight, returned at 7/1, travelled and jumped handy throughout. Kings Cherry had been prominent throughout and looked to have a promising chance approaching the straight when gifted a three length advantage over his rivals.
But the 100/1 shot tired as the runners were waved passed the second last fence to allow vets attend to Toni's Tip. Tony McCoy seized the initiative and threaded his mount through on the inside rail.
Although the winner did extend his advantage when he reached the front, the gallant Kings Cherry rallied in the closing stages to reduce the winning margin to one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Ireland had five horses in the race but only the Sean Connery-owned Risk of Thunder rated as a challenger. Ken Whelan's mount was in contention from the start, securing a tight position on the inside rail.
The five-time winner of the La Touche Cup at Punchestown failed to regain his composure after a bad mistake early on and settled for a position at the back of the field.
The Enda Bolger-trained gelding made another slight mistake when landing from the Canal turn and this ruled out any chance of a respectable finish, eventually crossing the finish line in seventh place. Native Status was sixth.
Trainer Martin Pipe and McCoy were following up their win in the race two years ago with Cyfor Malta.
'He's only just over 15 hands and we wouldn't have many smaller than him,' said Pipe's son David.
'He's come a long way since winning a seller several years ago.
'Horse and jockey make a great team - you wouldn't find a more gutsy partnership. They both try to outdo each other.'
Norman Williamson was badly shaken after being unseated from Supreme Charm and gave up his rides for the remainder of the day.
Ireland provided the first two home in the Grade 1 The Belle Epoque Sefton Novices' Hurdle in the shape of Sackville and No Discount.
Sackville, in the hands of Irish champion jockey elect Barry Geraghty, ran out the impressive winner after striding away from the final flight in fine style to get the better of the Charlie Swan trained and ridden No Discount by seven lengths.
Sackville was giving trainer Frances Crowley her first Aintree winner and she immediately indicated that the son of Sacto would appear next at the Punchestown festival.
The opening Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle always looked to be a two horse race between Best Mate and Master Tern but when the latter was declared a non runner this morning the event became a mere formality.
Best Mate was sent off the 4/11 favourite and duly collected the £15,750 first prize for connections when accounting for Copeland by two-and-a half-lengths.
Jim Culloty effortlessly popped Best Mate over the last but was forced to muster up a stirring drive to stave off the tiring challenge of Copeland.
The winner had run a tough race when finishing second behind Sausalito Bay at Cheltenham last month and trainer Henrietta Knight expressed fears earlier in the week that the race may have come to soon for the five-year-old.
Trainer Henrietta Knight adopted her familiar habit of not watching the race.
'I find it too nerve-racking watching the big races and this time I was behind the saddling boxes when he ran,' she said.
Many observers believe Best Mate would have beaten Sausalito Bay in Cheltenham's Supreme Novices' Hurdle had he not been switched wide.
Knight said: 'He was unlucky at Cheltenham and was probably the best horse in the race.'
Best Mate was spotted by Knight's husband Terry Biddlecombe before he ran in a point-to-point in Ireland.
'He was a brilliant jumper over point-to-point fences and if anything is not suited to jumping hurdles,' said Knight.
'He'll be going out in a field now but he's an exciting horse and will be going chasing next season.'
Red Ark, dubbed the most consistent English horse in training, delighted both connections and punters when scoring in the Perrier Jouet Novices' Handicap Chase.
Blowing Wind, who dropped back in distance today after a disappointing show in the William Hill National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month, found the pace set by Chicago City too taxing and dropped off the pace five fences from home.
Approaching the last, Red Ark, Noshinannikin and Wave Rock jumped in line, with the winner coming away the best to score tidily at 7/2.
Tony McCoy was denied a riding double when the fast finishing Quakers Field arrived from nowhere to get the better of top weight Auetaler and land the concluding Oddbins Handicap Hurdle.
Auetaler, jointly owned by soccer stars Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, had been tracking leader Shantarinni and moved within one length after jumping the second last.
But on the run in from the last flight it was Quakers Filed and jockey Matt Batchelor who had plenty left in the tank and rallied back to secure the bravest of wins. This was Batchelor's first ever win.
