The Kildare-based 11-1 shot battled hardest of all inside the final stretch to hold off defending champion Hedgehunter up the run in, and from there it was all over as Madden came home to a rapturous roar to complete an historic double after taking last year's Irish Grand National.

It was a fairytale for Madden who guided the winner home with tremendous courage on his first ever ride in the race, and he was understandably over the moon as he spoke after the race.

"It's brilliant. I had a dream run the whole way round and he jumped super. I wasn't sure I'd won until I crossed the line though. This means everything to me. It's magic.

I've tried to imagine winning this race since I was a boy but I couldn't. It's just magic."

The young jockey's joy was matched only by his delighted trainer who seemed stunned by the victory. "It is unbelievable. It was like watching a movie out there.

Niall gave him a great ride and never panicked - it is all hard to believe really, " Brassil said. "I have only been to Aintree once and that was in 1982 when I rode in an amateur chase. It is great for Niall as he is a fabulous young jockey and he has got such a great relationship with that horse. He was always in a good position and popped away - never doing anything extravagant. He is such a good jumper. The rain last night would have been a help as it would have deadened the ground a little bit and on better ground the others might have been able to quicken up better than he did."

Madden crept into the race on the second circuit and took the advantage over the final fence to hold off the 5-1 jointfavourite by six lengths. Clan Royal, the other joint favourite, was third under Tony McCoy, with Nil Desperandum back in fourth.

The 10-year-old was moving ominously well when arriving on the scene and the winner looked as if it would come from either Brassil's charge, Hedgehunter, Clan Royal or Inca Trail turning for home.

Last year's winner Hedgehunter was still on the bridle after jumping the last but his burden of 11st 12lb told and the Gold Cup runner-up, conceding 18lb to his conqueror, had to settle for a gallant second.

There was more Irish joy in the Scottish and Newcastle Chase when Asian Maze bounced back from a crashing fall at Cheltenham to trounce a high-class field, seeing off top hurdlers Hardy Eustace and Sky's The Limit along the way by an impressive 17 lengths.

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 and all being well she'll come back for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next year."