Melbourne Cup winning trainer Joseph O’Brien recently announced his intention to concentrate on his flat racing string but he showed he is still able to turn them out at the top level over the jumps, sending Fakir D’Oudairies to win his second consecutive Marsh Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
O’Brien was in attendance, along with a large crowd who turned out not only to watch the racing but to participate in the ever-popular Ladies’ Day which has become a central feature of Liverpool’s social calendar.
The trainer had a few anxious moments as the race developed in the finishing straight. Two out it looked like Paul Nicholls’ Hitman was going very well. “There was a moment when I thought Hitman was going well but we got a good jump at the last and that sealed it for us”, said O’Brien.
Fakir D’Oudairies is clearly ideally suited by the two and a half mile trip he faced here but he also played a huge compliment to the Willie Mullins trained Allaho, who has beaten the O’Brien horse on each occasion they have met.
O’Brien opted not to take on Allaho at Cheltenham this year and the strategy paid off handsomely as the £140,000 first prize took Fakir D’Oudairies career earnings to over the half million mark.
Paul Nicholls was happy with the performance of Hitman, an imposing horse who Nicholls feels will be better over a longer trip and they’ll be going down that route with him next season.