Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase
£50,000 guaranteed, Aintree 6yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 2
Tweet Thursday 11th April 2024

1 Its On The Line 3/1F
2 Bennys King 8/1
3 Annamix 5/1
22 ran Distances: 4¼l, 1l, 1¼l
Time: 5m 51.97s (slow by 31.97s)

That is some ride 👏

Derek O'Connor with a masterclass aboard Its On The Line in the @RandoxHealth Foxhunters' Chase 💯 pic.twitter.com/90aRD6NY1b

— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 11, 2024

Its On The Line, runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival, made a triumphant comeback here.

Under the skilled guidance of jockey Derek O’Connor, and adorned in the iconic silks of owner JP McManus, Its On The Line was tactfully maneuvered through the field. As Bennys King and Time Leader set the pace, O’Connor patiently waited for the opportune moment.

Approaching The Elbow, the front pair faced some challenges due to two loose horses. However, the outcome was never in doubt as Its On The Line surged ahead relentlessly, securing victory by a commanding four and a quarter lengths.

Bennys King put up a commendable performance to claim second place, with Annamix, Time Leader, and Tea Clipper following closely behind.

It was a second win in the race for O'Connor who said: "It's a privilege to ride in these colours every day and it's an absolute privilege to be associated with the McManus team. I'm in a great position.

"They went a ferocious gallop and he was a little bit of the bridle but he's a brilliant jumper so he kept jumping his way into it all the way. He is game, he got a little bit of stick after Cheltenham, he lacks that bit of class to travel in a race but he leaves it on the line every day, he puts it all in when it comes down to it and he's done that today.

"I was quietly confident (that I'd catch the leaders) as he'd had a good round of jumping and handled the conditions and because they'd gone such a strong pace I felt they'd have to come back to me at some stage."

Fox Hunters' Chase
£50,000 guaranteed, 6yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 2
22 ran
Going: Heavy, Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1   Its On The Line 7 12-0 Emmet Mullins Mr Derek O'Connor 3/1F
2 4¼ Bennys King 13 12-0 Dan Skelton Mr Sean O'Connor 8/1
3 1 Annamix 11 12-0 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 5/1
4 1¼ Time Leader 10 12-0 Miss Hannah Roach Mr Huw Edwards 8/1
5 23 Tea Clipper 9 12-0 Tom Lacey Mr Freddie Mitchell 25/1
6 nk Romeo Magico 6 12-0 Emmet Mullins Mr D McGill 5/1
7 shd Hardline 12 12-0 Gordon Elliott Mr J H Williamson 125/1
8 6½ Cap Du Mathan 9 12-0 Paul Nicholls Miss Olive Nicholls 22/1
9 1½ Captain Tommy 10 12-0 Fred Timmis Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell 33/1
10 7½ Rebel Dawn Rising 10 12-0 David Kemp Mr Dale Peters 14/1
FELL The Big Lense 11 12-0 James Owen Mr Alex Chadwick 50/1
FELL Drop Flight 9 12-0 S Loxton Mr Ben Sutton 66/1
PU Windsor Avenue 12 12-0 Jack Teal Mr Jack Teal 66/1
PU Reikers Island 11 12-0 Alan Hill Mr Daniel Cherriman 150/1
PU Spyglass Hill 11 12-0 R Pallas Mr James King 14/1
PU Espoir De Guye 10 12-0 S Loxton Miss Natalie Parker 33/1
PU Lieutenant Rocco 9 12-0 Syd Hosie Mr William Biddick 12/1
PU Grand Roi 8 12-0 Mrs J Owen Mr Tommie M O'Brien 125/1
PU Focus Point 8 12-0 T E Hyde Mr D T Hyde 125/1
UR Matts Commission 11 12-0 Jack Teal Miss Lois Teal 125/1
UR Cat Tiger 10 12-0 S Loxton Mr David Maxwell 28/1
UR Gaboriot 8 12-0 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Mr Harry Myddelton 16/1