Tom Mullins' mare had fallen in the Champion Hurdle and was then kicked by another horse, but she was clearly none the worse for the spill as she galloped her rivals into the ground with a brilliant display of front running. The 4-1 shot was briefly pressed by Hardy Eustace and Sky's The Limit three out but she kept up the pressure and drew away under Ruby Walsh to score in great style. "We always knew she was a high-class mare after the end of last year, " said a delightedMullins. "We thought she would go well at Cheltenham but she fell. She picked up after that though and we always thought she had the pretensions to win something like this. She'll go to Punchestown for the Champion Hurdle and all being well she'll come back for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next year."

Jockey Walsh was quick to weigh in behind the trainer's decision to run the horse in the Champion Hurdle. "People were having a go at Tom for running her in the Champion Hurdle but I was cantering in that race so he got it completely right and she has proved that today. She couldn't win over two miles around here but two miles in the Champion Hurdle is totally different and it is a tough race. The likes of Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca are stayers. She is a champion hurdler. I love this mare and I am delighted for the man that trains her."

The JP McManus colours were to the fore when Tony McCoy was seen at his best in getting Foreman home in the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase earlier in the day. Arkle Trophy winner Voy Por Ustedes looked set to score when jumping to the front three from home, but the champion jockey had other ideas and sent his mount up to challenge on the run to the last.

They jumped the obstacle in unison but 4-1 shot Foreman found the better turn of foot under a typical McCoy drive to land the prize by a length from the 10-11 favourite. "I think the softer ground helped him today. It was a bit quick for him at Cheltenham in the Arkle, " McCoy said afterwards. "I dropped him out too far there so I sat a little bit closer to the pace today. It was definitely more of a test of stamina on the ground and he battled well, he's tough."

It was a first winner at the Grand National meeting for jubilant trainer Thierry Doumen. "He's an absolutely brilliant horse, " the Frenchman trumpeted. "He ran a great race at Cheltenham to be beaten by a very good horse in Voy Por Ustedes but maybe today he was a bit closer to his best.

McCoy went on to complete a near 18-1 double on Refinement in the John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle two races later. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained mare led two out and ran on strongly to justify 11-4 favouritism and beat Material World by three lengths. "She's going along the right way alright, " said O'Neill. "I didn't know if she would go on this ground but she was OK on it in the end."

Paddy Brennan, who missed out on a ride in the Grand National when his intended mount Eurotrek was withdrawn earlier this week, gained some consolation when he guided Wellbeing to an impressive victory in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle.

The Philip Hobbs-trained nine-year-old finished fifth to Sinndar in the 2000 Derby, but he was having only his sixth start over hurdles.

He belied his relative inexperience, however, with a polished performance against seasoned handicappers as he quickened clear from two out to beat his stable companion, Noble Request, by nine lengths and in the process put Hobbs on 99 for the campaign.

"He's getting better and better. He might be nine but it's just taken a bit of time for him to click, " the trainer said.

"He's better than most horses who go jump racing but he's getting on a bit. He was obviously very good today and each time he's run recently he's improved. He jumps well and I don't see why he shouldn't jump fences. He hasn't got many miles on the clock.