Grand National Hurdle/Spring Stakes day started with the outsider of the field Bold Senator racing away to win from Wise Journey with Trueno third.  Our Miss Bossy took out the second from Aces and Angels with Flask third as attention then turned to the first feature of the day.

 Unfortunately scratchings cut out some of the main hopes but as the race started it was Dumosa who took the lead from Urban Explorer followed by Take Out and Isaiah with Fantauzzo at the back.  Around the home turn the first time Dumosa led from Urban Explorer with Isaiah close up then Take Out and Fantauzzo.  Heading along the back Dumosa maintained his lead as Urban Explorer and Isaiah were together from Take Out then Fantauzzo.  By the 1000m Dumosa led from Urban Explorer as the rest of the field packed up to start their runs where Dumosa was in front but Fantauzzo moved up to second inside Urban Explorer with Isaiah and Take Out close by.  Over the third last jump Fantauzzo appeared to get a little squeeze between the two more experienced horses but the trio still started to come away from the others as they came around the home turn.  Coming to the second last Urban Explorer and Dumosa edged slightly ahead of Fantauzzo who when urged by the jockey misread the signal and went to jump instead of putting an extra stride in resulting in the first season jumper leaving a leg over the jump and falling.  Urban Explorer and Dumosa continued on to have a two horse war but over the last Urban Explorer started to gain the upper hand and despite Dumosa fighting back strongly Urban Explorer was too strong winning the Grand National from Dumosa with Take Out running on late for third with Isaiah jumping well at his third jumps start in fourth.  As can be seen from the photos below Fantauzzo was fine and striding out well when being led back by the clerk of the course.  As with all the jumps meetings aside from Oakbank (where a Melbourne based group appear) this season there were no protestors to be seen - only racegoers enjoying the days racing (one of the nicest racedays in weeks weatherwise).      

The 3yo Maiden went to Silent Whisper while Pit Boss won the fifth race.  Danish Spy had her final start in winning the 6th race and is now heading to stud before the Group 3 Spring Stakes was decided.  With Happy Trails arguably the best wfa horse in the country at this time resuming he was up against quality sprinters in Riziz and Karacatis.  Karacatis went to the front from Riziz then Light It up with a gap to Outlandish Lad then Daytona Grey out wide with Happy Trails well back after being stuck wide in the early stages.  Karacatis and Riziz continued their two horse war towards the turn from LIght it Up and Mr Good Cat from a wall of horses leaving Happy Trails to have to go wide for his run.  Around the home turn Riziz hit the front from Karacatis then Light It Up with Happy Trails very wide on the track and still well back as the leaders sprinted.  Inside the final stages Riziz came away to storm home winning easily from LIght it Up and Karacatis in a very leader dominated race as Happy Trails made ground late still out very wide for fifth.

In the last race the omen bet for Grand National Hurdle day Pistolier was successful by a nose from Brave Journey.  12 months ago Pistolier was also successful and the previous Pistolier was foaled 100 years before todays winner won a number of stakes races before winning the 1918 SA Grand National Hurdle during a career where he raced from 2 until he was 18 years old (yes a 16 year career).