BETWAY AINTREE HURDLE (GRADE 1)

ON a memorable afternoon for hat-trick man Nicky Henderson and also Daryl Jacob, L’Ami Serge finally got everything right and ran out a clear-cut winner of the Betway Aintree Hurdle on the opening day of the Randox Health Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Only eighth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, the 5/1 chance reversed form with Jessie Harrington’s runner-up Supasundae, the pair fighting out the finish after taking the measure of surprise packet Clyne, an honourable third.

In a most unusual race, Diakali was allowed a long lead from Clyne with the latter well ahead of the pack. However, none of the jockeys looked perturbed and, when Clyne took over, the picture changed quite dramatically.

Supasundae was the first to commit and led before the final flight but L’Ami Serge quickly took over on the run-in, galloping on strongly to score by three lengths. It was a similar margin back to Clyne with My Tent Or Yours never able to join issue and The New One running poorly for almost the first time in his long and distinguished career.

L’Ami Serge has always had plenty of ability and won the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) last summer.

On the other hand, that was one of only two successes in his last 16 races and 5/1 did not look over-generous here, especially bearing in mind his Cheltenham effort. He clearly has his ‘going’ days and the bookmakers took no chances.

“He loves a furious pace and everything worked out well today,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to winning owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. “You have to produce him late and Daryl had to ride him coolly. He’ll go for the French Champion Hurdle again.”