Al Eile again lands Aintree Hurdle

The John Queally-trained Al Eile (12-1) won the Baltika Beer Aintree Hurdle for

the second time in three years under Timmy Murphy.

It was a fine training performance from Queally as the seven-year-old had

shown little form all season and missed the Cheltenham Festival after reportedly

being under the weather.

But after taking up the running from Asian Maze two out, Murphy drove him out

to the line to hold off the four-year-old filly Gaspara by a length and a half.

Afsoun stayed on a further three lengths away in third, but the favourite

Detroit City put in another lacklustre display and was never travelling.

Murphy said: "He loves Aintree - he's fantastic. A lot of credit goes to John

because the horse has not been right.

"I rode him at Leopardstown and he was telling us he wasn't right but he's

back today and 110%.

"He's been a bit ring rusty really because he's not been finishing his races

all season so John said to pop him out and just keep him interested."

Queally said: "We had a terrible winter with him and nothing went right. It's

great to get him back and I've always believed in him.

"We rode him a bit more positive today, he's mature now, he's growing up and

he is not a baby now."

Trainer David Pipe was understandably thrilled with Gaspara's effort.

He said: "She ran better than could have been expected. They went flat out

from the word go.

"She has been running in handicaps but has taken on the big boys and has

beaten the Champion Hurdle third.

"She's not very big but she is tough."

Michael Meagher, racing manager to Afsoun's owner Trevor Hemmings, said: "He's

run a solid race and stayed on well at the end, but it would have suited him

better if they had gone a faster pace from the start.

"He's in both the two-miler and three-miler at Punchestown, but at the moment

it's 50-50 whether he goes there at all."

Detroit City was flopping for the second time after being the beaten favourite

in the Champion Hurdle and his owner Terry Warner said: "We don't really know

what went wrong. Richard (Johnson) said he had no idea and that he was never

going that well again today.

"He jumped a bit better but he was never going.

"We'll have the horse vetted before he comes home for a holiday. He'll have

three months off, then we'll see what to do.

"If we're happy with him he could go chasing next year - he's big enough.

"He was sound when pulled up and that's the main thing."

Elliott said: "We got the horse from the sales and we've tried to sweeten him

up by hunting him.

"He's improved the whole time I've had him and he would have won the last

time at Cheltenham but the weight beat him.

"I thought he was better than he was going to Cheltenham and so did Robbie.

If he had been in the first five or six we would have been delighted.

"It's been a great team effort.

"He had a leg injury when we got him, but everything has gone according to

plan since."

Owner Brian Walsh added: "Once he jumped the last in front I knew he wouldn't

get caught, there was no chance they were going to get him."

Result:

1 Silver Birch (R M Power) 33-1

2 Mckelvey (T J O'Brien) 12-1

3 Slim Pickings (B J Geraghty) 33-1

4 Philson Run (D Jacob) 100-1

40 ran

Also: 8-1 Co Fav Joes Edge, Monkerhostin, Point Barrow

Tote: win £41.90 places £8.20 £4.20 £9.80 £29.30

Tote Exacta: £667.60

CSF: £369.95

Tricast: £12518.50

Tote Trifecta: £18,020.60