PERFECT race, perfect conditions, perfect outcome; Al Eile has long been the apple of John Queally’s eye and his love affair with Aintree shows no sign of ending. Though there was a conspicuous lack of Irish winners at the Grand National festival, Al Eile put things right emphatically with 10-length drubbing of Osana in the Grade One Scottish and Newcastle Aintree Hurdle, a contest the gelding has made his own. First successful in the 2005 renewal, Queally’s stable star retained the crown he had wrestled off Asian Maze 12 months ago with a marvellous display and, if Al Eile returns next year in similar form, it’s highly likely a fourth triumph will be on the cards. If that is the case, Aintree’s winner’s enclosure will again be packed to the rafters with owner Michael Ryan’s huge entourage, who ‘treated’ the crowd to a rendition of ‘Dungarvan, My Home Town’, and Queally sees no reason why that can’t be the case. “He has been such a good horse to us over the years,” said Queally, of the 11-4 joint favourite. “He’d had a lovely run on the Flat beforehand at Dundalk and, really, it was never in doubt here. This was the easiest win of the three. “It seems as if he is improving, as he was good enough to win another Grade One over two miles at Leopardstown at Christmas. He really thrives on this quick, spring ground and two-and-a-half miles around at Aintree suits him down to the ground. “There is no reason why he can’t come back and win next year. But we’ll have a look and see.” The man who had the straightforward task of steering was Grand National winning jockey Timmy Murphy, who was also aboard Al Eile in 2004 when he recorded his first success at Aintree in the 4-Y-O Novices Hurdle. “I’ve been associated with him for three seasons and can’t praise John Queally enough,” said Murphy. “He just knows the horse inside out and has improved him every year. He ranks pretty highly among my favourite horses.” Al Eile and Queally certainly have an affinity for Liverpool and so, too, does Howard Johnson, who took the other Grade One contest on the card with Tidal Bay, who supplemented his Arkle Chase win at Cheltenham in the Maghull Novices’ Chase. Johnson has enjoyed many great days at Aintree and it would be no surprise if Tidal Bay followed in a similar path to former stablemate Direct Route, who won the Maghull in 1998 before recording back-to-back successes in the Melling Chase. “He’s a magical horse,” said Johnson. | 
