Party Rock and Sean Quinlan© Photo Healy Racing
Party Rock sprang a 33-1 surprise when making it third-time lucky in the Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle at Aintree.
A faller two out when in with every chance two years ago, Party Rock was sixth 12 months ago and finally managed to lift the prize after only recently returning to action after 11 months on the sidelines.
Sean Quinlan had the Jenny Candlish-trained nine-year-old close up right from the start, before he moved smoothly into the lead two out. Champagne At Tara briefly looked a danger, but Party Rock galloped all the way to the line to score by five lengths, with Starchitect a head away third. Sky Khan was fourth.
"We thought he was jinxed coming here the last couple of years, so it's just fantastic. He's one of those horses that just gets under your skin. He's fabulous," said the in-form Candlish.
"He's become one of my favourite horses.
"When he ran in this race and fell it took him a long time to get over it and then we think he struck into himself last year.
"We were looking more to the three-mile handicap, not because we wanted to step him up in trip, but because he wasn't guaranteed to get in either race. We kept him in this and it's just brilliant."
However, Quinlan was banned for four days for using his whip above the permitted level. He is suspended on April 22 and from April 27-29.
