Structure Hill fell for the second time in succession as Lossiemouth landed the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.
The Nicky Henderson-trained favorite suffered a shock departure within the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham final month however it seemed as if he was travelling supremely properly for Nico de Boinville turning for residence this time, though he was caught in behind a wall of horses.
As De Boinville switched out to launch his problem, Structure Hill as soon as once more acquired his leaping all mistaken and hit the turf, leaving Lossiemouth (5-4) and Wodhooh to battle it out, with the first-named simply prevailing for Willie Mullins.
Punchestown subsequent for Structure Hill?
Henderson stated: “It is heartbreaking and to do it twice, you couldn’t believe it really.
“He’s genuinely the very best jumper you may ever see, however in that vocabulary there’s simply this what you’d have referred to as a one per cent probability of doing what he is executed, however he is executed it twice, which does fear you, in fact it does, however how are you going to iron it out?
“As Nico stated, he’d been incredible the entire manner. At a few hurdles he went in brief and that is what we have been making an attempt to get him to do, however when you are going to three-out and racing like which you could’t afford to try this, you have to go, and Nico stated he simply got here up too quickly.
“Nico stated he was filled with operating and his phrases to me had been that he truly had Lossiemouth the place he needed her. He was comfortable together with her in entrance quite than behind.
“We were starting to discuss it (Punchestown) just then. Funnily enough after Cheltenham I said to Nico we’d go to Punchestown and not here and he said ‘good, those hurdles will suit him better’.”
“Two and a half miles was ideal for her here, the race was ideal for her,” successful jockey Paul Townend advised ITV.
“The ground was lively enough, it’s drying out every minute compared to how it was riding on the hurdles course earlier.
“She coped with it properly. I’ve seen Nico strolling away, and Structure Hill, so we will have fun that.”