Jack Kennedy weaves his magic as Abacadabras lasts out Aintree Hurdle trip

Loose horses are a feature at Aintree. They come with the territory and they have changed the course of many a Grand National, but this year a riderless animal may just have made the difference in the biggest hurdle race of the meeting.

Abacadabras was the one running loose in the Champion Hurdle last month, his third-flight fall at Cheltenham the latest frustration since he had failed by just a head to beat the unbeatable Shiskin in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle there last year.

He'd been no match for Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February but was rated "our best chance of getting a winner" at the meeting by Gigginstown on his step up to 2m4f in the Betway Aintree Hurdle.

This time there was no mistake. He travelled strongly under Jack Kennedy and cruised into second place two out. He was still full of running when he headed the renascent Buveur D'Air at the final flight – and where in the past he has not always looked the boldest of leaders, he had the loose Jason The Militant for company and held off the keeping-on Buzz by a length and a quarter.

Abacadabras, with the help of the loose horse, keeps on well at the finishCredit: John Grossick

"That was a very good performance," Kennedy said. "I was very happy with him. He travelled and jumped great and took me there very easily. Probably too easily.

"I got there a bit soon. But the loose horse helped me because he can be a bit idle so that worked out in my favour, it gave my lad a bit of company. The loose horse helped keep him interested and it worked out great.

"He's a horse with an awful lot of ability but things have to really click with him – when they do he's an extremely talented horse.

"I would love to have seen how he would have got on at Cheltenham. I was very happy with the position I was in. He just made a silly little mistake and tipped up."

Proving his stamina for 2m4f could lead to a try at even longer distances, as the jockey said: "I wouldn't be afraid after that to give him a go over three miles and ride him cold and see how we get on."

Kennedy believes there is unfinished business with Abacadabras before he is sent chasing and added: "We'll have to talk to the O'Learys but if it was up to me I'd stay over hurdles – there could be another big race in him."

Nicky Henderson is delighted there is still unfinished business with Buveur D'Air, who left his modest reappearance effort well behind and – unlike the winner – was done no favours by the loose horse.

"It was just lovely to see Buveur D’Air run like that," the trainer said. "Jason The Militant didn’t help him in any way.

"He was giving him his lead and then when he unseated his rider down the far side Buveur D’Air just started tanking too soon, which was bad luck on Nico as he’d lost his cover and then all he did was interfere with him when loose all the way up the straight. He was nearly doing too much too soon.

"There's more to come from him. He's a long way from his pension and that was good to see."

Stablemate Buz surpassed himself in second and Henderson said: "He has improved dramatically but that will be it for him because he loves soft ground.

"He's running in these now because he’s hit the top of all the handicaps. All of those good two and a half mile races will come into play for him."

Sandwiching the Henderson pair was 80-1 shot Millers Bank, three weeks after For Pleasure finished third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle for Alex Hales at 40-1.

"I felt a bit Clive Brittainesque, throwing these in at long odds," the trainer said. "But he'd done nothing but improve at home. He won very well at Newbury and we're going novice chasing in the autumn so I didn't have a lot to lose with his handicap mark."

Watch: Abacadabras gets the better of Buzz in the Aintree Hurdle

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