THEY SHALL NOT PASSE

Impaire holds on in a three-way thriller

- Melissa Jones

IMPAIRE ET PASSE clung on in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle after a pulsating three-way battle and dramatic post-race enquiry.

Bumping and barging between the evens favourite, runner-up Bob Olinger and third Langer Dan gave on-course stewards a real headache.

To gasps from the crowd, they passed the post in unison, none of the three giving an inch in a fight for £140,325.

Jumps to the right from heavily-backed Impaire Et Passe started a chain reaction of moves from his rivals amassing on either side.

Directly behind at the penultimate flight, Rachael Blackmore switched to the favourite’s inner on Bob Olinger.