Full Result 2.00 Aintree | 7 April 2000

Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle Class A Grade 2

(Class 1) (4yo+) 2m4f Good 11 hurdles

1st £21,000 2nd £8,050 3rd £4,025 4th £1,925

Pos. (Draw)	Horse / SP Trainer / Jockey	Jockey Trainer	Age	WGT	OR	TS	RPR	MR
1	4. Best Mate (IRE) 4/11F Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight	Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight	5	111	154	91	146	–
b g Un Desperado (FR) - Katday (FR) (Miller's Mate)
Led to 5th, remained close up, led again 8th, pushed out from last (op 1-3 tchd 2-5, 4-9 in a place)

2 2½	3. Copeland 9/2 A P McCoy M C Pipe	A P McCoy M C Pipe	5	116 b	140	93	146	–
b g Generous (IRE) - Whitehaven (Top Ville)
Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, ridden between last 2, kept on, no impression on winner (tchd 4-1, 5-1 in a places)

3 23 [25½]	6. Harvis (FR) 28/1 Norman Williamson Venetia Williams	Norman Williamson Venetia Williams	5	111	–	58	120	–
b g Djarvis (FR) - Tirana (FR) (Over)
Close up, led 5th until headed 8th, weakening when hit 2 out (op 16-1 tchd 33-1 in places)

4 ½ [26]	1. Barney Knows (IRE) 11/1 Russ Garritty M A Peill	Russ Garritty M A Peill	5	119	–	66	125	–
b g In The Wings - Afeefa (Lyphard)
Held up, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, soon lost touch (op 8-1)

5 28 [54]	5. Forest Ending (USA) 25/1 Timmy Murphy Jim Old	Timmy Murphy Jim Old	5	111	–	22	109	–
ch h Green Forest (USA) - Perlee (FR) (Margouillat)
Held up, lost touch from before 3 out, tailed off (op 16-1)

5 ran Off time: 2:00:00 Winning time: 4m 59.20s (slow by 14.20s) Total SP: 108%
Non-runners: Lord Brex (vet's certificate), Master Tern (vet's certificate), Retro's Lady (vet's certificate), Solo Mio (unsuitable ground)
1st owner: Jim Lewis (Best Mate) 1st breeder: Jacques Van't Hart
2nd owner: Professor D B A Silk & Mrs Heather Silk (Copeland)
3rd owner: P Richardson & J M Kinnear (Harvis)
Tote win: £1.40 PL: £1.10 £1.40 Ex: £2 CSF: £2.07 Trifecta: £27.90