Second only to Sharp Belline in The Last Fling Chase at the Merseyside venue three weeks ago, the Venetia Williams-trained gelding gained compensation in great style with a 12-length call over top-weight Turpin Green, with 2003 winner Truckers Tavern staying on grimly for third.

After taking up the running when long-time leader Irish Raptor hit the fourth from home, the 8-1 chance was kept up to his work by Paul O'Neill in the wild conditions to earn quotes of 401 from Ladbrokes and William Hill for the John Smith's Grand National.

Williams, speaking from Wincanton, where she was on the mark with Maletton in the Connaught Cup, said: "I am delighted with him. He ran well at Haydock in similar ground the other day and while I wouldn't say we went there today confident, he certainly had a chance.

"He stays well, which is what you need for these races - he is a Roselier and they go well in soft ground."

There was a sting in the tail for O'Neill, however, as he was handed a three-day ban (January 31 to February 2) for excessive use of the whip.

Nicky Richards was much happier with Turpin Green's showing after his flop in the Hennessy.

"That's more like it. Mr (Trevor) Hemmings says we will freshen him up now and even though he has an entry in the Gold Cup we may wait for Aintree and the Martell Cup. I know he acts on heavy, but I am convinced that he is better on good ground and he has run some very good races at Liverpool in the past."

The Hemmings-owned Afsoun (11-8 favourite) provided Detroit City's Champion Hurdle supporters with another boost by slamming his bonusprint. com Champion Hurdle Trial rivals by nine lengths under Mick Fitzgerald.

The grand old campaigner The French Furze (14-1) stayed on stoutly to claim second, while Overstrand put up a career best in third.

Fifth in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, it is becoming apparent Afsoun faced a pretty stiff task in that contest as the first two home now head the betting for the Champion Hurdle (Detroit City) and Arkle (Fair Along) respectively. He reappeared this year with a fine win in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury and was still travelling strongly at the head of affairs when falling in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

Trainer Nicky Henderson has shelved plans to go novice chasing, a decision which is now reaping rewards, and for Hemmings it made a nice change to see his colours carried to victory in a major hurdle race.

"I never used to know what hurdlers did, I only concentrated on chasers, but I saw how much fun the connections of Istabraq had and I decided that I wouldn't mind a bit of that!" he said.

Bet365 make Afsoun a 251 chance from 40-1 for the Champion Hurdle and 9-1 from 10-1 for the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 10, although connections did suggest he was likely to go straight to Cheltenham.

Amaretto Rose (10-11) bounded into the Supreme Novices' Hurdle picture with an emphatic 18-length success in the Grade Two Anglo Irish Bank Novices' Hurdle to give Henderson and Fitzgerald a 3-1 double.

A strong-looking race on paper, it was turned into a procession by the six-yearold mare, who is now 10-1 from 25-1 with Stan James for the Supreme behind 7-1 favourite De Valira.