A review of the rest of Thursday afternoon's meeting at Aintree

Dream day for Jacob

We Have A Dream made up for missing Cheltenham with an easy success in the Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.

Ruled out of the JCB Triumph Hurdle in the days leading up to the Festival, the Nicky Henderson-trained youngster never looked in any danger of gaining significant compensation on Merseyside.

Jacob took up the running a long way from home, and only Philip Hobbs' Gumball put up any sort of challenge to the 2/1 winner, coming home seven lengths back in second.

Apple's Shakira, a stablemate of the winner, was ridden patiently by Barry Geraghty, but could only stay on into a well-beaten third despite being sent off the 13/8 favourite.

We Have A Dream has now won five on the bounce and connections will be dreaming of next season and all the top hurdle races.

Jacob said: "He's a beautiful horse. From day one at Warwick I thought this lad might be a bit special. I think he is. We're hoping he's got a massive future. I think this fellow will be even better again when he steps up to two and a half (miles)."

Sky Bet introduced the winner at 16/1 for next year's Unibet Champion Hurdle, spokesman Michael Shinners saying: "You had to be impressed with We Have A Dream. He looked a really exciting prospect and hopefully he'll be able to serve it up to the established stars, including stablemate Buveur D'Air, next season."

Henderson said: "He was a sick horse. There was not much of a question of missing it (Cheltenham). At the time it was frustrating missing it and I said to the boys we couldn't have gone there, but on the other hand maybe that was the best thing about that. Maybe he's a fresh horse.

"He was always enjoying himself there. He was fresh and well. But he was pretty sick. On that Monday morning his manger hadn't been touched and he had a temperature. We've had four weeks and that was quick enough.

"He is a good horse and that was a good performance, but none of the first three in the Triumph Hurdle have turned up. Let's sit back and enjoy that. He is unbeaten through the year and has won two Grade One races. He has got his life in front of him and has not stopped improving all season. That is it for the season."

He said of Apple's Shakira: "Barry said she was just a bit flat. She settled better today and travelled well, but she flattened out a bit."

Hobbs said of the runner-up: "Richard (Johnson) says the ground helped him as much as anything else. That was probably the main thing, although we wondered whether the flatter track maybe helped as well. He's obviously been disappointing and we weren't quite sure of the reason. The ground is pretty soft, but it's not as soft as Cheltenham, where it was very soft.

"He's not entered at Punchestown. We'll see what there is. I just wondered about the Swinton Hurdle (at Haydock). Hopefully you'd get better ground and four-year-olds would get a weight allowance."

Looking ahead to next season, the Minehead trainer added: "He has just about enough size to jump a fence, but his jumping has been a bit of an issue. I'd be thinking of the hurdling route to start with."

Oscar back on track in Manifesto

Colin Tizzard's charge had made several errors on his way round and jumping the second-last he was in a poor fourth.

Cyrname set a good early gallop, but jumped to his right on several occasions, effectively ruining his chance. Harry Skelton tracked him until turning into the straight on Rene's Girl and the mare appeared to have everything covered.

But Finian's Oscar finally began to stay on running to the last and while Rene's Girl jumped it well, her stride was shortening and the well-supported 5-2 chance won going away in the end under Robbie Power.

Brain Power was an early casualty.

Tizzard said: "He was always just in touch. He raced lazily. Initially, I'd think Punchestown is next. I don't think we're finished this year as he hasn't raced much. If he comes out of this OK I'm sure he'll have that option. He's a strong stayer and he's maybe a Hennessy (Newbury) horse (next season). He's a lovely horse."

He added: "Good horses don't necessarily have to be brilliant every time. He was quite good at Cheltenham and Cheltenham form is always the best form of the season. He was better today. It was ringing in my ears what Robbie said at Cheltenham - that we should go three miles next time. He jumped really well and travelled really well until they started racing. Then he hit one, or two, and it didn't look very promising for a while, but he was just close enough the whole time.

"He's on form right now and I would imagine we'll look at Punchestown (Growise Champion Novice Chase). He (Power) is a master horseman, he's a class rider."

Power remains adamant Finian's Oscar will be a better horse over three miles. He said: "His jumping has been his problem. He just gets unsure of himself, but I knew going to the last he had got into a good rhythm. We got away with it over two and a half (miles)."

Dan Skelton, trainer of Rene's Girl, said: "She jumped the best of them all and travelled well, but she just got nabbed. The winner is a very good horse and has probably spent all season saving up for today.

"We've had a great year with her. I thought jumping two out, we were definitely going to win. Going to the last I thought they were all flying at us a bit. It was a great run by a mare."

Rest of the action...

Last year's runner-up Balnaslow (11/2) won the Foxhunters' Chase, in which Guy Disney, the first amputee jockey to ride over the National fences, was simply delighted to have completed the famous course.

First-time cheekpieces did the job for Bentelimar (10/1) - tipped by Ben Linfoot at 14/1 in his Value Bet column - in the Red Rum Chase.

Trainer Charlie Longsdon said of the winner: "It all went right in the end. It's taken its time! We've been thinking he's seriously well handicapped for a big race for some time.

"I thought it might be one race too many for this season and that he would win first time out next season. But he's done it, thankfully."

Getaway Katie Mai (15/8 favourite) looks one to follow after she won the Grade Two mares' bumper which rounded off the card.

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