Hakim rolls back the years

Worcestershire trainer John Spearing and young jockey Paddy Brennan tasted success over the Grand National fences for the first time when they teamed up with Hakim in the totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree.

At 11 years of age Hakim is better than ever and he completed a four-timer with a two-and-a-half-length verdict over Fiori.

The 18-1 shot was soon bowling along in the lead, jumping flawlessly, and he was still travelling strongly crossing the Melling Road.

Fiori (100-1) threatened briefly after the last but Hakim was always going too well and held on for a victory described as “awesome” by the rider.

“It’s my first winner over the National fences. We’ve had two runners in the National, one fell at the first and one fell at the second, but we did have one get round in the Topham a few years ago,” Kinnersley-based Spearing said.

“I think Hakim will make a Topham horse. His rating is too low to get in the National. I’d run him in the National if by then he has gone up.

“Hakim can jump any fence and has never made a mistake anywhere while he’s been racing.

“He’s getting a bit old to be improving but he is.”

Brennan, 24, added: “The first time I rode in the Grand National I was inexperienced and I didn’t know what to do.

“But I’ve been watching Ruby Walsh, who to me is the best rider over these fences. He doesn’t ride the horses, you’ve got to let them think they are loose and just sit on them and that’s what I tried to do today.”

Brennan went on to complete a 44-1 double in dramatic circumstances on Cerium in the Intersky Novices’ Chase.

The 11-8 favourite benefited when the leader, Nyrche, went left and missed the penultimate fence leaving Cerium to beat Stance by five lengths.

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: “Paddy said that Cerium would have won even if Nyrche hadn’t run out.

“He’ll probably go for the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Sandown over Christmas if four-year-olds are eligible.”

Fair Along (4-7 favourite) staked an early claim for top honours with a brilliant front-running performance to trounce his rivals in the Weatherbys Bank Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

Philip Hobbs’ three-year-old cruised home under Richard Johnson by 21 lengths from Ortolan Bleu, prompting Coral to make him their 12-1 favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle. Totesport were less impressed and left him unchanged at 20-1.

Fair Along had won a Grade Two contest at Cheltenham in similar fashion on his previous start and the trainer’s wife, Sarah Hobbs, said: “Richard said he was delighted with that and said he maybe wasn’t as fresh as he was at Cheltenham.

“He tries very hard and he jumped very well. Richard was just hanging on to him and letting him glide over his hurdles.

“We probably won’t run him for three weeks and I suppose we might think about something like the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. We are not worried about an undulating track.”

Alan Shearer was in the winner’s enclosure after the William Hill/Stanleybet Children In Need Handicap Hurdle to greet Covent Garden.

The Newcastle United striker, who starts back in full training on Monday having recovered from a recent hernia operation, owns the gelding in partnership with Dave Fulton, Alan Shield and trainer Howard Johnson.

Graham Lee kicked on approaching the third from home on Covent Garden and he appeared to have matters under control when left clear by the last flight fall of the Robert Thornton-ridden Halcon Genelardais.

Covent Garden was sent off the 5-1 co-favourite and Shearer admitted to backing the winner.

He said: “I had a few quid on but I better not say how much.

“It was a great effort by the horse on his first start for a while but he’s really tough. Graham had to niggle away at times as he can be a bit lazy.”

Likely favourite The Market Man was withdrawn on account of the ground, which was officially described as good to soft.

Thornton is planning to see a specialist after hurting his ribs in the fall while Timmy Murphy, who also came down at the last flight on Inch Pride, was stood down with a bruised leg.

Jack Doyle, 16, enjoyed success on his first ride at Aintree when he got Vingis Park (16-1) home in the Jim Ennis Construction Ltd Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.