Codd hit with 17-day ban for overuse of the whip on bumper winner

Victory came at a cost for Jamie Codd when the amateur rider was suspended for 17 days and fined £400 for overuse of the whip on Getaway Katie Mai in the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ bumper.

Codd was punished for using the whip too frequently from the wings of the second last to the winning post. The suspension rules him out of the Thursday and Friday of the Punchestown festival this month.

The mare was examined by the veterinary officer after the race and was found to have no abnormalities.

The overriding emotion for trainer John Queally was relief after Getaway Katie Mai had justified favouritism.

Queally is no stranger to success at Aintree following his notable exploits with star hurdler Al Eile and Getaway Katie Mai, second to Champion Bumper scorer Relegate on her previous start, proved a very popular winner.

Chants of ‘we love you Katie, we do’ from supporters and connections greeted the daughter of Getaway when she returned to the winner’s enclosure.

Getaway Katie Mai finished second to subsequent Champion Bumper scorer Relegate last timeCredit: Caroline Norris

Queally said: "I’m relieved more than anything. There’s a lot of expectation when you’re favourite for a race like this, so thankfully she’s fulfilled everyone’s hopes.

“We’ve been short of top class horses in recent years but we’ve got a good one here and we may have a look at running her on the Flat.”

Balnaslow goes one better

Balnaslow, who finished second in Randox Health Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase to Dineur 12 months ago before going on to win the Punchestown Champion Hunters Chase, went one better for jockey Derek O'Connor and trainer Graham McKeever.

O'Connor – who was winning the race for the first time – had the 11-2 shot positioned fairly prominently from an early stage and the pair battled on well to deny Bear's Affair (20-1) by two and a half lengths, with Greensalt (66-1) a further four lengths behind.

The victory was an emotional one as Balnaslow’s owner Peggy Hagan died after the horse’s victory at Punchestown last year. She was a popular figure on the Irish point-to-point scene.

McKeever elaborated: "Balnaslow's late owner Mrs Peggy Hagan, who was a great enthusiast, died in November and was looking down on us today. Her family were here and it's great for them.

"The ground was less testing than it was at Cheltenham and that was a big help. Balnaslow had a problem with a chipped knee after he ran second in this race last year and his recovery had a lot to do with James Jenkins and University College Dublin veterinary hospital."

The John O'Shea-trained Lilbitluso was fatally injured in a fall at the Canal Turn.

Balnaslow (green) negotiates Becher's Brook alongside second-placed Bear's AffairCredit: Grossick Racing Photography 0771

Bentelimar repays the faith

Charlie Longsdon was adamant in the build up to Cheltenham that Bentelimar was among the best handicapped chasers in the country, and that if he failed to make the cut in any of the handicaps there he would win one of the consolation races at Kempton at the end of the week.

What he should have said of course was that if he did not make the cut at Cheltenham he would win at Aintree. While Kempton was a disaster, the nine-year-old took a highly competitive Red Rum Chase in style. It proved to the trainer that his faith in the ex-Irish nine-year-old was not misplaced.

After Jonathan Burke had produced Bentelimar to beat Theinval by three and a quarter lengths at the end of a fast-run race, Longsdon said: "I've always said he was well handicapped, and he's been placed, placed and placed.

"He didn't run his race at Kempton and I thought it might have been one race too many, but while I was right about him being well-treated I just picked the wrong day.

"Johnny gave him a great ride. It's been a tough first year for him here and he deserved it. It proves he's a top class jockey."

Success for Burke, who was once Irish racing's next big thing, was extra special after such a difficult time.

Jonathan Burke: moved to England after a promising start in IrelandCredit: Patrick McCann

He said: "Bentelimar had been a bit disappointing and we thought he'd be up to winning before now, but I felt the flat track and strong pace would suit him and he jumped and travelled well.

"The first-time cheekpieces definitely helped in the latter part, as he winged the last two and stuck his head down and galloped to the line, winning nicely."

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