1 Guitar Pete 13/2
2 Clarcam 14/1
3 Calipto 7/2F
15 ran Distances: 1¾l, 2¼l, ¾l
TIME 4m 9.80s (slow by 9.80s)

Guitar Pete stayed on strongly in the final furlong to collar Clarclam and record a one and three quarter length victory in the Grade One Injured Jockeys Fund 50th Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree this afternoon.

Guitar Pete
© Caroline Norris

The 13/2 shot was settled out the back of the field for the majority of the race and benefited from a cool ride from Paul Carberry, who produced a stunning turn of foot from the gelding after the final hurdle.

Trainer Dessie Hughes was delighted after race and felt a change of tactics was the key to Guitar Pete's victory.

"I watched it in the Owners and Trainers section which is head-on so I couldn't quite see how far behind he was after the last," said Hughes.

"We knew he jumps and stays but that was a great ride - typical Paul Carberry.

"We've made plenty of use of him in the past so the plan was to hold up him until they reached the straight as he's been doing most of the donkey work in his races this season. I didn't mean for him to be that far back though!

"He's full of heart and always fresh. The flat track has suited him much better as he's been found out up the Cheltenham hill a couple of times this season - maybe we've learned how to ride him now! We've always known he jumps and stays well but he's shown a great turn of foot."

Injured Jockeys Fund 50th Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
£100,000 added, 4yo only, 2m 1f, Class 1
15 ran
Going: Good

PAUL AND PETE ON SONG IN OPENER

Jockey Paul Carberry got away to a perfect start at the Crabbie's Grand National Festival when winning this juvenile hurdle on Guitar Pete.

The winner finished third in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival, but made no mistake today, sluicing through rivals in a ride that encapsulates Carberry's own brand of jockeyship.

Carberry, who rides Monbeg Dude in Saturday's Crabbie's Grand National, said: "The first time I rode him was at Cheltenham, but I learned a lot about him on that occasion.

"He got burnt out a bit, so today I rode a waiting race and it has worked out great. The flatter track helped and from the turn in they were putting the pace on which helped because I was able to sit and wait and do them at the end. We jumped the last three very well, which helped.

"It's great to start with a winner because it takes a bit of pressure off - I'm looking forward to the rest of the meeting."

Of Monbeg Dude, Carberry said: "I've no worries about his jumping, although I hope we can get into a rhythm because he can make a mistake. I've schooled him over Aintree fences and he respected them, so I hope he respects them on the day. I'll get a great ride if he does.

"It doesn't feel like 15 years [since he won the big race on Bobbyjo] - it feels like yesterday."

Guitar Pete is named after Peter Stewart, a grandson of owner Pat Sloan, who said of her horse: "He's been unbelievable. He's a super little horse with a great big heart."

CLARCAM COULD RUN AGAIN

Clarcam fell when still in with a chance in the Fred Winter at the Festival and showed his true ability by finishing second, beaten a length and three-quarters, for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott.

Clarcam
© Caroline Norris

Elliott said: "He looked as though he had a chance at the second-last flight but it is a long run-in and I am thrilled with him.

"It was a great run and he will be some chaser to look forward to next season. Before then he could go to Fairyhouse or Punchestown."

A further two and a quarter lengths adrift in third was the 7/2 favourite Calipto, who had been fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "I am thrilled with him as he is still a big baby. He has ran a blinder and you never know how much Cheltenham has taken out of them.

"If he can brush up his jumping he will keep improving.

"I might enter him at Punchestown but I'm more thinking about taking him to Auteuil in May as there are some cracking Grade One races there for juveniles."