Morris’s birthday rejoicing is heightened by First Lieutenant

On his 63rd birthday, the Ampleforth-educated Morris was ecstatic after First Lieutenant outbattled Menorah after an inspired ride by man of the moment Bryan Cooper, the rising star of the weighing room who rode three winners at Cheltenham.

The Grade One victory provided some consolation to Morris after airline boss Michael O’Leary, the horse’s owner, insisted that First Lieutenant missed the Cheltenham Gold Cup in favour of the Ryanair Chase where he was second to Cue Card.

Morris said: “He really deserved one. He’s got a big heart and he jumped super for Bryan, but I thought we were struggling turning in.”

Baby-faced Cooper was deputising for Davy Russell, who cannot ride in Britain on medical grounds following a heavy fall sustained at Cheltenham.

Cooper said: “I’ve been knocking on the door with this lad all season so it’s great he’s got his head in front. He’s been up against Bobs Worth, Tidal Bay, Cue Card – he really deserves it. He jumped exceptionally well and I was always trying to save a bit.”

The result could have been different if Charlie Hall Chase winner Silviniaco Conti had not blundered on the back straight. He was less than two lengths away in third.

Malcolm Jefferson’s Cape Tribulation was fifth and there was further disappointment for Malton when John Quinn’s Countrywide Flame, the Champion Hurdle third, was unplaced in the John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh dictated the pace on the doughty Zarkandar, keeping enough in reserve to repel the sustained challenge of 20-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies on the champion novice The New One in this clash of the generations.