Report from AintreeHi Cloy got Ireland off the mark in style at the Aintree festival yesterday when leading home an Irish clean sweep of the featured John Smith's Melling Chase.

Just 24 hours after suffering a major reverse with Beef Or Salmon, the Michael Hourigan team struck back with a vengeance and the 14 to 1 Hi Cloy powered home by three parts of a length from Fota Island with Mariah Rollins back in third.

"I can smile again now!" said Hourigan who now plans to try Hi Cloy at three miles for the first time in his career in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown. "I think ridden properly he will stay. We will see how he does, and if Beef Or Salmon gets through a hurdle race at the Fairyhouse Grand National meeting, I'll run him at Punchestown too."

Winning jockey Andrew McNamara had had his first ride at the track come to a premature end when Kerryhead Windfarm fell in the opener but wasted no time making his impression on the place.

"He jumped better than expected and there's no point giving ground away so we probably got there too early," said the rider. "Up the straight he was idling the whole way and if Fota Island had come up to him he would have found a bit more."

The diminutive Strangely Brown was another Limerick winner of the concluding handicap hurdle as the Eric McNamara trained horse battled to a game success under jockey Brian Byrnes.

The celebrations by the eight man winning syndicate, which includes the former Irish rugby international Rob Henderson, were loud but McNamara insisted: "I can't emphasise enough what a good ride Brian gave the horse. He didn't panic when he got into trouble and the horse is a gem."

But if Hi Cloy and Strangely Brown were the Irish stars there was no mistaking the colossal impression left by Black Jack Ketchum maintaining his unbeaten record in a stunning display for the Grade One Sefton Hurdle.

Tony McCoy's mount never had to get anywhere near top gear to win by five lengths and immediately earned a fulsome "best I've ever trained" tribute from trainer Jonjo O'Neill.

"He's a great traveller, a great jumper and an absolute Christian to deal with," continued O'Neill. "The one little thing is he's such a lazy worker at home. If you saw him work, you wouldn't be buying him!"

Practically nothing could buy Black Jack Ketchum now and although he was immediately installed as a clear favourite for next year's World Hurdle, he keeps showing so many gears there must be a suspicion he could be tried at two miles at some stage.

"He's just as good at two and a half, and I think he would win a decent race at two," smiled O'Neill. "There's no pressure with a horse like this. He will get beaten some day - but I'd like to have whatever beats him." McCoy completed an effortless double when the Cheltenham runner-up Straw Bear destroyed the opposition in the Grade Two novices hurdle.

Paul Carberry should be fit for the National ride on Sir Oj today despite taking a kick in a fall from Star Clipper in a thrilling Topham Chase won by Liberthine.

Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen became the first to complete the Foxhunters-Topham double over the big fences and his ground saving ride to beat the favourite Hakim made a nonsense of the decision to stop him riding in today's National. "Sam's given her a beautiful ride all the way. He's very cool and he's gone the brave route on her," said trainer Nicky Henderson who hopes to train Liberthine for the National next year.

Terivic, one of seven fallers at Becher's in the Topham, had to be put down after suffering neck injuries.

Star De Mohaison is as low as 16 to 1 for next year's Gold Cup after completing the SunAlliance-Mildamy Chase double for Barry Geraghty.