Aintree victory marks first Grade 1 success for Woods

Tadhg Carey

Published: Thu 7 Apr 2022, 5:08 PM

Last updated: Thu 7 Apr 2022, 5:09 PM

Athlone jockey Kielan Woods enjoyed the first Grade 1 win of his career when he rode Millers Bank to victory in the opening race of the Aintree Grand National meeting today.

Woods steered the eight-year-old to a ten-lengths victory in the SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase -a Grade 1 chase over 2m4f for trainer Alex Hales

Watch the closing stages here:

⭐ Millers Bank puts it all together to win the G1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at @AintreeRaces

The eight-year-old travels strongly and bursts clear to win in fine style under @kielanwoods for trainer @AlexHalesRacing ?#RandoxGrandNational pic.twitter.com/OcTObybzch
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 7, 2022

It comes hot on the heels of Woods' victory in the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Global Citizen.

And although the limelight shone on him after the Cheltenham win, this victory is his first Grade 1 success.

Woods told Racing TV: “I couldn’t believe how easily he was going. He came up out of my hands two (fences) out, and then I thought I’d definitely win. It’s an unbelievable feeling, that. It’s a bit weird for me because I’m not used to it; you almost feel like you shouldn’t be there. It’s so different - the kind of feeling you wouldn’t mind getting every day!”

Woods is pencilled in to ride outsider Lord du Mesnil in Saturday's Randox Grand National.