Grand National Festival: Yorkhill can sail to success in Mersey Novices’ Hurdle

David Metcalf | April 8, 2016

Yorkhill impossible to oppose

Neptune winner Yorkhill looks a cut above his rivals and impossible to oppose on Grand National day in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree (14:25).

Trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, the gelding looked a top notch prospect last season when unbeaten in two bumpers and confirmed that view when putting a faultless jumping performance to score easily by 8 1/2 lengths on his hurdles debut at Punchestown.

Yorkhill then took the step up into Grade 1 company in his stride to register a comfortable 2 1/4 length success in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

The six-year-old has since gone on to post a career-best effort when taking the scalp of the highly-regarded Yanworth in the Neptune Investement Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen in action.

Performance which oozed class

After travelling strongly throughout in mid-divsion, Yorkhill scythed through the field to be on the heels of the leaders turning for him before showing a good turn of foot to take up the running at the last.

The son of Presenting then kept on strongly to fend off Yanworth by 1 1/2 lengths, with the pair pulling seven lengths clear of the third home.

It was a performance which oozed class, and the form of the race sets a very high standard.