Racing:Master Minded bounced back to something like his brilliant best with an imperious performance under Ruby Walsh in the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree. The dual Champion Chase hero was well beaten off in last month's renewal of the two-mile Grade One at Cheltenham and was sent off at 11-2 stepping up to two and a half miles.
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old jumped and travelled with the panache of old and was still hard on the bridle turning into the straight, with his rivals all hard at work.
Once Walsh did push the button, Master Minded quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals and he eased clear after a good jump at the last to secure a nine-length win.
Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run was bidding for his second successive victory in the race, but had to make do with the runner-up spot. Somersby was third.
"He's much better over a trip," Nicholls said. "It's great now we can step up a bit with him. We'll aim him for the King George now and we have a different horse to have a crack at Long Run with now.
"My idea is, he is the horse next year. Kauto (Star) has been there and done it. He was given a peach of a ride by Ruby. He was brilliant."
Nicholls added: "We've trained him a little differently this year, basically tweaking a few little things like working him with slower horses at home. We know now he wants more of a trip so in hindsight I probably should have run him in the Ryanair. He'll have a holiday now and he'll go for the same race he won at Ascot over two and a half miles and then the King George.
"When he's at his best he's a really good horse."
Walsh said: "They went a really good gallop. It was a competitive race. He travelled lovely in behind them and he came on the bridle strongly when we turned out the back.
"It was a case of not going too soon on him. He picked up well, jumped the last well and quickened all the way to the line. It was a disappointing run at Cheltenham but probably in hindsight two miles is too short for him now. He wants to go further and I imagine the King George will be his target. He was very good today over two and a half so I suppose you have to try it now.
"You won't know if he will stay until he goes three miles. It's probably a natural progression for him. If he doesn't stay he can always go back for the Ryanair at the Festival. He's a wonderful horse and the step up in trip has helped him."
Always Waining once again showed his love for the Grand National fences with a second successive victory in the John Smith's Topham Chasefor Peter Bowen on day two of Aintree's Grand National meeting.
The 14-1 chance had been first reserve for the National itself until Friday morning but was allowed to take his chance in the Topham after the deadline for him to get a run in the National passed.
Favourite Mon Parrain looked the likely winner when cruising into the lead in the straight and he appeared to have sealed victory with a fine jump at the final obstacle.
However, his petrol tank soon emptied on the famous long run-in and Always Waining claimed him on the Elbow before pulling clear for a four-length win in hands of Tom O'Brien. Scotsirish was third with Gonebeyondrecall fourth.
The Tim Vaughan-trained Saint Are ran out a surprise winner of the John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle. The 33-1 chance had been beaten in a Newbury handicap on his latest appearance but travelled well in the hands of Richard Johnson and was bang there turning for home.
The hard-pulling Sparky May was sent off favourite having chased home wonder-mare Quevega at Cheltenham and she made stealthy headway down the back straight to challenge Saint Are for the lead.
The two of them looked to have it between them but Sparky May's early exertions soon took their toll, leaving Saint Are to pull clear for a four-length win.
Another outsider, Cantlow, caught Sparky May late on to grab the runner-up spot.
"The longer trip has helped, but he was running very well in a decent novice hurdle when he fell a couple of runs ago," Johnson said. "It probably took his last run just to get his confidence back. To be fair, Tim Vaughan has freshened him up and today he was always cantering. I saw Sparky May coming. She's very good and maybe Cheltenham took the edge off her and we were able to outbattle her today."
Quito De La Roque (6-1) battled to victory in the John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chaseon day two of Aintree's Grand National meeting.
In an eventful contest the seven-year-old recovered after pecking on landing at the second last to peg back 50-1 outsider Sarando on the run-in.
Golan Way (8-1) was a further two-and-three-quarter-lengths back in third.
In the first race, David Arbuthnot's Topolski came from last to first to maintain his unbeaten record over obstacles in the John Smith's Top Novices' Hurdle.
The Sandown and Newton Abbot winner was sent off at 11-2 for this Grade Two contest and Daryl Jacob was content to bide his time at the rear of the field.
He began to make headway through runners turning out of the back straight and quickened up well to challenge for the lead heading towards the final flight.
Oilily proved a determined challenger but Topolski wore her down to score by three-quarters of a length.
The 9-2 favourite Sire De Grugy was third.