Gentleman De Mee (7-2) turned over 4-7 favourite Edwardstone to land the Grade One Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase on Randox Grand National day at Aintree Racecourse.
Willie Mullins' six-year-old had bypassed last month's at last month’s Cheltenham Festival where the Alan King-trained Edwardstone landed a fifth straight victory when impressively landing the Grade Sporting Life Arkle Trophy Challenge Novices’ Chase. Irish champion trainer Mullins admitted he hoped that race had taken something out of the favourite. It appeared he was right as Gentleman De Mee led from start to finish in the two-mile contest at Aintree.
Edwardstone sat off the pace set by the eventual winner, but when he came to challenge him three fences from home, Gentleman De Mee upped the gears to move clear.
Under Mark Walsh he ran out an excellent four-and-a-half length winner with Edwardstone having to settle for second this time.
Mullins said: "I think the Arkle winner, having been to Cheltenham and we didn't, maybe didn't have the freshness we had. I was hoping our freshness might be the right card to play and it looked like that.
"Mark gave him a brilliant ride, he got him out, got him jumping and even gave him a breather when he made a mistake at the fourth-last. Mark felt he was always in charge.
"He's just improved the last six to eight weeks, I think the change of tactics have helped, rather than holding him up and getting beaten like he was early in the season. He's maturing and growing into himself.
"It looks like there's more to come. We'll see about Punchestown, we'll see how he comes out of this. I think he's a Champion Chase horse."
Mullins did initially have ante-post favourite for the Arkle in Ferny Hollow but his season was ended by injury
The Irish champion trained added: "He's good. He had a vet check the other day and everything is going well. He'll be back next season and hopefully he'll get a bit of time out at grass first."
King wasn't overly disappointed with defeat, but maybe his seventh start of the season took it's toll.
The trainer said: "All through the week I was getting afraid of the winner who was only 3lb behind us and had an easier prep.
"There are no regrets, because if you look at Dan's horse (Third Time Lucki), we have run our race.
"I'm thrilled with him, and would think the Shloer might be the first target next season."
On third home Third Time Lucki, trainer Dan Skelton said: "It's a shame that he hit the cross fence, but he soon was back on the bridle.
"He's had a great first year over fences and seen a lot of the back of Edwardstone. His campaign will remain at two miles when he comes back next season."
Gordon Elliott's Sire Du Berlais (16-1) caused another Grade One shock as he beat favourite Flooting Porter in the JRL Group Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle.
Gavin Cromwell's Flooring Porter won a second successive Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival. But like many of those prominent at Prestbury Park he wasn't able to double up at Aintree.
Under Danny Mullins, he took up his usual front-running role and had Cheltenham runner-up Thyme Hill on the stretch on the turn for home. But Sire Du Berlais was always travelling well in behind under Mark Walsh. And then jumped upsides the leader two out and both battled all the way home. But it was Elliott's 11-year-old – a two-time Cheltenham Festival handicap winner – quickened best to score by a length-and-three-quarters.
It was a fifth Grade One victory of the meeting for powerful owner JP McManus, who had earlier been inducted into the Aintree Hall Of Fame, and another of his runners Champ (3-1) was 20 lengths back in third.
Elliott said: “It didn’t work out for him in the Pertemps but it was great he’s won here and I’m absolutely delighted – he got into a lovely rhythm and he jumped great.
“We’ll see how he is in terms of what’s next. It was a bit of a surprise but that’s the game we’re in, we’ll take whatever we’ll get.”
Winning jockey Walsh added: “He’s so tough. Fair play to Gordon, he had him in some form, because things didn’t go right in the Pertemps (this year) and it was a brave call to run him in this, after running disappointingly in the Pertemps.
“But he had him in some form and he winged round there and jumped. He’s some tough little horse.
“It just shows you how good a trainer Gordon Elliott is. He had him in tip top shape today, so all the praise has to go to Gordon.”
On the runner-up, trainer Cromwell said: “He was a little bit gassy – a little bit fresh going to the start, and a little bit gassy during the race, but look, he ran a great race.
“It’s disappointing to be beat, but that’s racing. He was beaten a length and a half – the best horse won, but he’s still a very good horse and he’ll probably aim for Cheltenham again next year.”
Trainer Elliott landed Grade One success with 5-2 favourite Three Stripe Life in the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.
Elliott's charge had finished second in three Grade Ones chasing home Mighty Potter before finding Sir Gerhard too good at Leopardstown and at last month's Cheltenham Festival.
But without Sir Gerhard in opposition, Three Stripe Life was proved the class act to finally land a Grade One victory in the 2m4f contest.
Under Davy Russell Three Stripe Life scored by four-and-three-quarters-of-a-length from Might I (16-1). North Lodge (11-2) was a further three-and-three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.
A delighted Elliott, having his first winner of the week at Aintree after some near misses, said: "He's deserved that, he's a good horse. We bought him to be a chaser and if you look at him, that's what he'll go and do.
"He's bumped into Sir Gerhard a couple of times, who is a very good horse, and he's done little wrong all year.
"It's nice for him to get his day in the sun and Kenny and Laura Haughey (owners) are here, they are good supporters of ours so it's great.
"He'll definitely go chasing next year. He's in at Punchestown, but he's been busy enough so we'll just see."
Winning jockey Russell added: "These colours are very, very important to me, Kenny Haughey is a huge supporter of our yard. He's been very patient with this horse and we're so happy he's delivered for Kenny."
Trainer Harry Fry said of Might I: "He went to Sandown and started favourite giving 3lb to Constitution Hill.
"He then ran into Jonbon at Haydock and with a rating of 135 we couldn't get him to Cheltenham.
"I feel I've made a bit of a mess of it winning just one novice with him, but now that he settles he will get further.
"So we will keep him over hurdles and aim at some nice staying prizes including a three mile handicap at Haydock in November."
Party Business (11-2) came from last to first to land the opener on Grand National day, the Grade Three EFT Construction Handicap Hurdle.
The Ian Williams-trained six-year-old ran an eye-catching race when staying on to be fifth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last month despite being badly hampered by a faller. He kept on well to be counted a slightly unlucky loser.
But despite being in areas and at times not going that well during the extended 3m1f contest under 3lb claimer Charlie Todd, he weaved his way through the field to challenge.
He came through to lead over the second-last hurdle as Ilikedwayurthinkin (16-1) challenged him. The pair battled over the final flight and on the run to the line, but it was Party Business who stuck to the challenge best and scored by three-quarters-of-a-length. Mill Green (18-1) was a massive 12 lengths back in third as the front two drew clear. Beauport (10-1) was a further four lengths adrift in fourth.
Trainer Williams believed it was a deserved success after his Cheltenham disappointment and will send him chasing next season.
He said: "It looked a bit of a messy race for him, but he finished strong. He was nearly brought down twice, but it was a solid run from the last and a real battle, with the front two well clear. It's always better to be on the winner than the second.
"It's great for the owners, Mark (Sheasby, Eventmasters). They've been with me a long time and brought around 1,000 people today. One of our original horses, Latchford, was down to Mark.
"It's great to be here on the big stage. He was actually anti coming to Liverpool and when they went by the stands on the first circuit I thought he was probably right, fortunately he got his confidence and put up a sterling effort.
"I would think that will be it for this season and he'll probably go chasing next season, with maybe a run over hurdles first."
Of the runner-up, trainer Gavin Cromwell added: "It was a good run. We'll see how he is but might look at Punchestown."
Meanwhile before racing owner JP McManus, who won the Grand National winner with Don't Push It in 2010 and Minella Times last year, was inducted into the Aintree Hall of Fame.
The Irish businessman was accompanied by his wife Noreen and their children and grandchildren as he became an 'Aintree legend'.
A plaque bearing McManus' name now hangs on the Hall of Fame wall in McCoy's Bar, which honours 20-times champion jockey Sir Anthony McCoy – the rider best known for wearing the owner's famous green and gold silks.
McManus has a long history with Aintree, with Deep Gale his first National runner in 1982 when falling at the first fence. But his first memory is from 1960.
He said: "I remember Merryman II, who won that year, and then Nicolaus Silver the following year. The first I saw on television was Kilmore in 1962 with Fred Winter, and after that Ayala, Team Spirit – I remember them very well.
"I didn't come here until 1976 (Rag Trade won that year). Then I was here for all of them except for the year of foot and mouth disease (2001).
"I've had some wonderful memories here and it would be unfair to pick one over the others, but the day that Don't Push It won was very, very special. We've had a few disappointments, but you just celebrate the wins and forget about everything else.
"I love it, I look forward to it very much. And I hope that my grandkids who are here this year – all of them except my namesake, JP – I hope they want to come every year. It's lovely to have them here."
