No security nightmares, no officials intent on winding tape around jockeys' necks at the start and a colossally backed Irish winner of the Martell Grand National. Aintree '99 was a good one for the visitors.
A crushing success for Istabraq in the Martell Hurdle and with Tony Martin's Extra Stout also winning, it brought the Irish score over the three days to six. But the obvious highlight was Bobbyjo's thrilling victory in the National.
The flood of money on Paul Carberry's mount was helped by the rapidly drying ground, a surface on which Bobbyjo had won the 1998 Irish National. In contrast, the proven soft ground operators drifted in the market, but even allowing for pre-race stamina doubts, the supporters of the ante-post favourite, Double Thriller, got no joy at all.
The Gold Cup fourth overjumped the very first fence and gave teenage jockey Joe Tizzard no chance. The well-backed Baronet was next to go at the fourth but, even then, it was clear that Blue Charm, a chance ride for Lorcan Wyer, Jenny Pitman's last National runner, Nahthen Lad, and General Wolfe would play a prominent role.
The principals largely avoided incident until Becher's Brook second time around when Eudipe and Camelot Knight fell and brought down Fiddling the Facts and Choisty.
"I saw one or two of them go but I wasn't close," Carberry said later, after he had continued his stalking of the leaders.
That stalk reached its peak with two to jump when the field bunched. Call It A Day briefly gave his supporters hope and Blue Charm continued to run a blinder. However, it was John Queally's rank outsider, Merry People, who ran the race of his life. He looked sure to play a crucial role until falling at the second last. Remarkably, he went to be placed 16th after being remounted by Garrett Cotter.
Carberry was briefly squeezed out by Addington Boy, but when he pulled out Bobbyjo to the outer approaching the last, the race was as good as over.
"Going to the start he felt great, really bouncing on the ground. Getting squeezed up probably helped because it allowed me get a breather into him and I couldn't believe how easily he won it in the end," said Carberry afterwards.
Lorcan Wyer, deputising for the injured Mark Bradbourne, enjoyed a dream run and reported: "He didn't quite see it out but I would call this one of my best moments in racing. Down at the start he was whipping around a bit and I thought we might even fall at the first!"
Call It A Day's trainer, David Nicholson, said: "He's run a fabulous race and was given a great ride by Richard (Dunwoody.) At the last I thought he might just win." Mick Fitzgerald was despondent over the fall of Fiddling The Facts. "I was having a dream ride. She was really carrying me but just overjumped at Becher's."
In contrast, Istabraq's jumping was foot perfect as he contemptuously dismissed his rivals, with Charlie Swan, mindful of Istabraq's Punchestown target in the Shell Champion Hurdle, looking over his shoulder at French Holly all the way up the run-in.
"That'll put him right for Punchestown!" said Aidan O'Brien, who added: "He has all the gears and was only in third today."
Swan described the Champion Hurdler as awesome and "by far the best horse I've ever ridden. All credit to Aidan for keeping him so fresh."
The President, Mrs McAleese, sent the following message to Tommy and Paul Carberry on Saturday, "I was thrilled to watch your great win at Aintree today. It was a triumph for all those who worked with you in the training and preparation of Bobbyjo for this renowned race. For a family from Co Meath to create such history over a 24 year period brings us great joy and enormous Pride."
