Mange Tout reverses form with Selma De Vary at Aintree

Mange Tout refused to be beaten in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.

Trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, the filly was a 5-1 chance as she turned up at the meeting fresh having last been seen in February.

In a field of 10 she was always travelling, and after taking up the lead she fought off a challenge from Triumph Hurdle fourth Selma De Vary (9-4 favourite) – who was one place in front of the winner when they met at the Dublin Racing Festival – to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Elliott said: “I thought Jack gave her a great ride. She was very keen in Leopardstown and we probably rode her to win rather than getting her to settle and it just told.

“It was hard not to take her to Cheltenham because obviously you want as many bullets as you can, but Cheltenham is over now and I’m glad we kept her for here.

“I’d say the flatter track suited her as she’s got that bit of boot. Jack actually said she wasn’t doing a stroke in front, she was very idle.

“She’s a nice mare and she’ll just a fence next year. I’d say that might be her (finished) for this year, as she’s not the biggest girl in the world. We’ll see.”

Jockey Paul Townend said of the Willie Mullins-trained Selma De Vary: “She ran another good race. There was nothing much between her and the winner when they met at Leopardstown and there was very little between them again.”

Adrian Keatley was delighted with Indian River, who outran his odds of 25-1 in third. He said: “It was a good run. We didn’t bring him here just for the sake of it, just like we didn’t take him to Cheltenham for the sake of it, either (finished 10th in Triumph Hurdle).

“We always thought he was a fair horse, even though it looked like we had a bit to find. He was giving the front two 7lb as well.

“He’s had a hard enough campaign considering he had two runs on the Flat over in Ireland, and he’s not the easiest on himself. It bodes well for next season.

“There’s a four-year-old only race at Cheltenham in October, those are the type of races we’ll be looking at. I’ll probably give him a break and then look at a run or two on the Flat first.”