Grand National 2024 – Gwennie May Boy wins the opener on day three

Gwennie May Boy (9-2) surprised his new trainer Dan Skelton to win the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, the opening race on Randox Grand National day at Aintree Racecourse.

Skelton landed this Aintree contest with Aux Ptit Soins in 2019 and West Balbao 12 months ago. And the latter was his main hope of three in the 21-strong field this time and was sent off the 11-4 favourite under the trainer's brother Harry Skelton. But it was Gwennie May Boy, who had won both his starts at Bangor and Uttoxeter since moving to the Skelton stable from Jonjo O'Neill's Jackdaws Castle yard, who came out on top. Under Charlie Todd, who partnered Party Business to win the race for Ian Williams two years ago, Gwennie May Boy powered clear coming to the final flight to eventually win by seven-and-a-half lengths from Lord Snootie (18-1). Favourite and Skelton stable-mate West Balbao was half-a-length back in third in his bid to defend his crown, with O'Neill's Johnnywho (9-1) a further neck adrift in fourth.

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Trainer Skelton said: “I have to say I genuinely thought West Balboa would win, especially after Kateira won yesterday, and there was nothing separating them at Kempton Park on the run before.

“I am astounded at the improvement in this horse. He is still only six years old which is remarkable. Walking around beforehand I thought he was a bit light, and might be over the top, but what do I know as it is clearly how he likes to be. I’ve not had him all that long to be honest with you. He has just been a remarkable little horse. I didn’t even work him out before I ran him at Bangor, I just ran him, and then obviously thought that was a bit unexpected. I knew there was a £100,000 race at Uttoxeter, so I thought we better go for that. Then there was this here, which was obvious. It really is remarkable how that horse has improved and done that. I’m very proud of him, and West Balboa. He came to me and I didn’t know how good, or not good, he was, he just got on a roll. He works terribly at home, but he saves it all for the track.

“He could run again this season. I’ve got to talk to the owners of West Balboa, but she will go chasing next season. We did have half a thought of going to France, but whether we shelve that now we will see.”

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Winning jockey Todd told ITV Racing: "I'm absolutely over the moon. We travelled so well throughout and I just tracked the pair in front of us. They've obviously gone very hard early and the race kind of fell apart from three out and he's been very game and he's stuck on very well. I'll leave it down to them (the Skelton team) with what we do and where we go, but they are a very hardworking team and they deserve al the success they get.

"That was very good. We travelled very well throughout and he jumped impeccably. They went hard early on and we were able to pick them off one by one. He’s a funny little horse, really, because as the race is developing he’s going along minding his own business, but as soon as you ask him to come alive, he’s like a little whippet. He’s not shy of a bit of boot, anyway!

“I was lucky enough to ride him round Uttoxeter when he won a good handicap hurdle round there, and then I mentioned to Dan that this race would be right up his street, and he said he’s in there already! I fancied my chances coming into today, and I’m just lucky that I was on him and Harry [Skelton] wasn’t. I’ve actually won this race before – two years ago on Party Business.”

Runner-up Lord Snootie's trainer Christian Williams, who saddles Kitty's Light in the Grand National, said: “We thought last year that he was one of our better horses and we were looking forward to staying chases, but that got put on the back burner for another year. He’s had a bit of a slow season and didn’t quite face the tongue-tie at Uttoxeter – put a line through that run; the owner was very understanding, and we took the tongue-tie off and had a nice race today, so hopefully he will be back at Aintree over the big fences one day. The winner looked well-handicapped; take the winner out and just to be involved in these races and finish second in these premier handicaps at these big meetings is why we train.”

Gordon Elliott's smart Betterdaysahead (6-5 favourite) resumed winning ways when she cruised to victory in the Grade One Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. The five-year-old was unbeaten in her first four starts in two bumpers last season and two over hurdles this. But she tasted defeat for the first time on the track when sent off the odds-on favourite in the Grade Two Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival, finishing second to Golden Ace. But stepping back up to 2m4f – she had won a 2m5f Listed contest at Navan in February – Betterdaysahead was back in the winner's enclosure following a superb seven-a-half-length success over .stable-mate Staffordshire Kent (20-1). Bugise Seagull (50-1) was a further four-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Josh The Boss, owned by Liverpool-born John Neild and ridden by his so.n Jamie, cut out a lot of the early running at the 'home' track they both won on in the autumn. But when he dropped away halfway through the contest, Esprit Du Poiter and Bugise Seagull took over. But favourite Brighterdaysahead was cruising in behind under Jack Kennedy and once she hit the front between the final two flights the race was over.

Clearly she is a very talented mare and could be something special for owners Gigginstown House Stud. But three-time Grand National-winning trainer Elliott wouldn't drawn on just how good she could be. He said: "The horses have been running well week, but we've been hitting the crossbar. I said a lot about this mare leading up to Cheltenham and I was gutted coming out of it, but we're overjoyed today.

"She's very good, I was nervous before the race because looking at her I thought she looked a bit light across her kidneys, but she showed how special she is. We can go wherever we want with her. I'm not going to say the best mare I've had because Apple's Jade was pretty special, but she's good.

"In this game there are always disappointments, but I look at life totally different now, I just love training winners and I love horses. But to win today is unbelievable. I don't think the trip was the reason she got beat at Cheltenham, I thought she'd win. Willie's horse (Jade De Grugy) has already come out and won at Fairyhouse. I just think on the day Jack and Paul (Townend) were watching each other and the other horse (Golden Ace) came and did them both. She's gorgeous to look at."

Winning jockey Kennedy told ITV Racing: "She showed there what we've always thought of her. I really wanted to hold on to her for longer but I couldn't. She just put me there, going very easily. She's a very talented mare. I really can't put my finger on it (how she got beat at Cheltenham). It was a bit of a mess of a race and we didn't go much of a gallop, so she was keen. It was disappointing she didn't win there as we knew she was better than that, so it's nice for her to show that to everyone here today.

“I had a bit of cover on her today and she settled a bit better, and I suppose obviously she was up in trip, a slow-run two miles would be no problem for her, the gallop they went the last day was really what caught her out the last day, and I’m just pleased she showed what we could do today. We were so disappointed at Cheltenham, but it was the case that we couldn’t be all so far wrong. I’m glad we came here and she showed what she could do. I don’t know whether she’ll stay over hurdles next year or go chasing, that’s up to the O’Learys and Gordon, but she’s very smart and I’m sure there’ll be more Grade Ones for her.”

On Bugise Seagull, who ran a massive race at 50-1 in third, trainer Charlie Longsdon said: "At 50-1 he wasn't given a chance, but I knew he was five lengths better than his Sidney Banks run. I felt that would put him on a par with Handstands. He's not streetwise enough to run in handicaps and he will be chucked in a field and have a good holiday.

"It's been a bad season for us, the horses have been ill and then they came back on heavy ground and it's just not easy to come back from being ill on heavy ground. This horse has kept the flag flying for the yard to be brutally honest. Hopefully this is the turn of things to come."

Cruz Control (9-1) landed a superb front-running victory in the William Hill Handicap Chase. Tom Lacey's seven-year-old, who had won in good style at Newcastle last month, followed up with victory at Aintree. He jumped superbly throughout and led from start to finish and held off all the challengers to triumph under Stan Sheppard. First he shrugged off the challenge of Crebilly after the turn for home in the extended 3m contest. He looked to be powering clear after the final flight, but Sam Brown (20-1), under Freddie Gingell, was finishing fast and late on the inside of Forward Plan (13-2). But Sam Brown never got nearer than a length at the line as Cruz Control had the race under his control. Forward Plan was a length-and-a-quarter back in third. Kinondo Kwetu, who had been entered in the Grand National but failed to make the cut, was another five-and-a-half lengths back in fourth.

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