Gina Andrews celebrates with Foxhunters’ hero Latenightpass

Last year’s second goes one place better over the National fences.

Gina Andrews guided Latenightpass to glory in the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

Andrews, a record-breaking point-to-point rider, had the nine-year-old – who was second 12 months ago – up in contention right from the start.

She was tracking last year’s winner Cousin Pascal, with Cat Tiger never far away as the first three from 2021 looked set to dominate again.

After Jett, the short-priced favourite based on his efforts in last year’s National, could not get his own way from early on not many got into contention.

One who did arrive late on the scene was Porlock Bay, a winner at last year’s Cheltenham Festival but he could only manage third.

All smiles for Gina Andrews
All smiles for Gina Andrews (PA)

It was Cousin Pascal who wilted first, but on jumping the last Cat Tiger and his owner/rider David Maxwell appeared to be travelling the best.

However, Latenightpass (7-2), running for the first time since a wind operation, kept up the gallop to provide Andrews’ husband Tom Ellis with the most notable success of his career.

Andrews said: “He was absolutely super, he just takes to it so well for whatever reason. He was so nimble, he is by no means the most scopey, just agile and so nimble.

“You have to get a good start, they always say you can’t win the race at the start but you can lose it. He was brilliant all the way round, no mistakes, I’m just delighted.

“It’s an absolute dream. He took to it like an absolute dream last year so we missed Cheltenham this year and he was a much fresher horse. I’m so pleased.”

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