Mister Morose was the impressive, if not surprising, 16/1 winner of the competitive Grade 1 Martell Aintree Hurdle at Aintree today.
Carl Llewellyn's mount was under heavy pressure in seventh place turning into the straight but the two-time Grand National winning jockey switched Mister Morose to the outside in order to mount a challenge on the leaders.
The winner, fifth in the Bonusprint Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, still had a string of horses to reel back including Hors La Loi III, the hard ridden Katarino and a steadily improving Mantles Prince.
Approaching the second last it looked like Mantles Prince, trained in Ireland by Pat Hughes, had the race summed up as young jockey Frances Berry was simply cruising aboard the six-year-old. But Mister Morose was relentless in his efforts and headed Mantles Prince on jumping the final flight.
When asked for an effort, Mantles Prince was left wanting and Mister Morose, the relentless galloper that he is, stretched clear for a three length victory.
Hors La Loi III, second to Istabraq in last month's Champion Hurdle, made progress from the fourth last to hit the front before three out. But it was evident that the Cheltenham race had taken its toll on the French-trained gelding as Dean Gallagher's mount disappointingly faded away to finish fourth.
Sharpaten, carrying a 15lb penalty imposed on him for winning at Leopardstown last month, successfully landed the opening Cordon Bleu Handicap Hurdle. Pat Hughes' gelding led home an Irish one-two with the JP McManus owned Grimes finishing best of all to pass the line in second.
Philip Carberry, younger brother of Paul, subtly positioned his mount in a line of four approaching the second last. Sharpaten put in a fine leap and headed the weakening Nordance Prince coming to the last. Three in a line over the last and the many predicted a blanket finish but Sharpaten (16/1) had enough left in the tank to stave off the fast finishing Grimes and the tiring Out On A Promise.
Dean Gallagher, rider of Out On A Promise, was brought before the stewards and recieved a one day ban for improper riding. The stewards believed he had used his whip without allowing sufficient time for response.
This was 19-year-old Phillip Carberry's first ever winner in England and the third overall Irish winner of the meeting after Ross Moff won on Thursday and Sackville triumphed yesterday.
'The track rode brilliantly', said Carberry. 'The only doubt was that he had won by a length at Leopardstown and had been put up a stone.'
Carberry added: 'He doesn't do much in front but as the pace quickened up I just went passed them'.
Grimes had never looked in the contest after making a couple of early blunders but Charlie Swan's mount dug deep in the final stages to reel in the leaders and finish a creditable second.
'He has run a blinder' said owner JP McManus of Grimes.
Trainer Christy Roche added: 'He was giving a lot of weight to the winner, but he was never really travelling in the way he can. That can happen when they come back to hurdles from fences'.
Odds on favourite Samakaan suffered a shock defeat in the Grade 2 Martell Red Rum Chase after the front running Jungli survived a couple of bad jumping errors to land the £22,500 winners prise at the handsome prise of 12/1.
Samakaan appeared to have the winner under tabs when cruising up on his outside approaching the third last. But when Norman Williamson asked his mount for an effort he was found wanting and left one paced. Jungli maintained a one length advantage to the last and popped over to battle home in gallant style.
Winning jockey Jimmy McCarthy was guiding Jungli to his fourth win of the season.
Successful trainer Paul Webber said of his winner: He is an absolute superstar, one of the most honest and straight forward horses a trainer could ever train.'
'We had hoped that Samakaan's race at Cheltenham may have been to much and we just hoped to capitalise', added Webber.
Puget Blue carried Irish hopes in the race but Adrian Maguire's mount has to settle for fourth place.
