Gordon Elliott excited to send Three Stripe Life chasing after Mersey domination

Saturday: Mersey Novices' Hurdle, Aintree

The margins can be wafer-thin in top-class sport and there was a sense of a changing in fortunes for horse and trainer after Three Stripe Life provided Gordon Elliott with a welcome Grade 1 success.

Three Stripe Life has arguably been the unluckiest novice hurdler of the season having finished second in three Grade 1s since winning on his reappearance, the last two times against the all-conquering Sir Gerhard at Leopardstown and then in the Ballymore at Cheltenham.

Elliott had a similar tale of woe, particularly on the opening day here on Thursday when he must have thought he had walked under a ladder, smashed a mirror and failed to salute a magpie.

2.25 Aintree: full result and race replay

The stewards' decision to strip Pied Piper of his dead-heat in the Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle would have severely grated and the trainer's mood would not have been improved by Zanahiyr's fall at the last when leading in the Aintree Hurdle.

But with Sir Gerhard seemingly heading to Punchestown, Three Stripe Life made his class tell by travelling strongly into contention under Davy Russell before powering home to score by four and three-quarter lengths from Might I.

Three Stripe Life ended a run of three straight second places in Grade 1 contestsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He has bumped into Sir Gerhard and has done nothing wrong all year and it's nice for him to get his day in the sun," said Elliott. "We've been hitting the crossbar the last couple of weeks, but the horses have been running well.

"Davy gave him a great ride, he jumped very well and he's a chaser for next year. He's entered at Punchestown but he's been busy enough and we might just finish it off. He'll go chasing next year – he's bred to be a chaser and looks like a chaser."

Paddy Power cut Three Stripe Life to 10-1 (from 16) for next season's Turners Novices' Chase and Russell believes the six-year-old can thrive over fences.

"I ended up having to be there quite early on him, but he's a mature horse and had been prepared to run in a point-to-point so I was happy once he got there and filled himself up," said the jockey. "Then he went again and it was lovely.

"We were dicing with two miles and we knew it wasn't ideal for him, but he's classy and we thought he'd learned a lot over two miles and then when we stepped him up he'd find a bit of improvement, so that's what we did.

"I'd imagine over time he'd get the next four furlongs. He's not an Arkle horse but he could start [over fences] over shorter trips than what he’ll end up over."

Davy Russell after winning the Mersey on Three Stripe LifeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Might I performed with credit after again chasing home one of the season's best novice hurdlers with trainer Harry Fry quite clear in saying he has not helped his cause.

"I've done a poor job because he's only won one race this year as a novice. He's finished second to Constitution Hill, third to Jonbon and now second to this thing [Three Stripe Life]," Fry said.

There was a sad postscript to the race as Elle Est Belle was a fatality after collapsing on the run-in after being pulled up.

Trainer Dan Skelton said: "It's horrible, just horrible. Nobody wants to see it happen. The owners understand but it doesn't make it any easier."

Captain Conby took a heavy fall two out and after being attended to on the track, was able to walk on to the horse ambulance to be taken for further examination.

Three Stripe Life gave Elliott his first success at the meeting this week after the trainer's day started with a trip down memory lane with Grand National heroes Tiger Roll and Silver Birch taking part in the pre-racing parade.

"I thought Silver Birch looked brilliant at 25 years of age and Tiger looked great as well," Elliott said. "I'd say he was thinking what are we doing over here if I'm not racing, but he's going to have a happy retirement now at Gigginstown, where he will get well looked after."

Read more from Saturday at Aintree:

16-1 Sire Du Berlais downs favourite Flooring Porter to land Liverpool Hurdle

Gentleman De Mee makes the running to down the mighty Edwardstone at Aintree

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