The 12-1 shot beat D'Argent by 12 lengths with Irish raider Newbay Prop a neck away in third. L'Aventure made up an enormous amount of ground from the rear to take fourth.

There was drama after a circuit of the track when Nil Desperandum, ante-post favourite for the John Smith's Grand National, was pulled up by Tom Scudamore in front of the stands after suffering an injury which turned out to be fatal.

The strongly-fancied Ladalko from the Paul Nicholls stable was also pulled up at halfway.

"He's done it very well, " a delighted Maguire said afterwards. "He got inside all the way and jumped grand. I had loads of horse down the inside and was always going to win from there. He's a great jumper and even at the last I left him to it."

Venetia Williams was distraught afterwards because of the injury to Nil Desperandum.

"He shattered a pastern the second he landed, " Williams said. "He jumped the fence fine and it just happened on landing. He has been a star of the season and jumping has been his forte."

Meanwhile, punters at Wexford yesterday put their faith in amateur Nina Carberry to continue her winning ways for owner JP McManus with success aboard Angelus in the Arctic Tack Stud Maiden Hurdle, but the 3/1 favourite had no reply once headed early on the run-in by Casey Supreme and had to settle for fourth place behind the 5/1 winner.

Casey Supreme is trained by local handler Paul Nolan and was ridden by John Cullen. The Supreme Leader gelding contained the late effort of Allgrownup by threeparts of a length and Nolan admitted: "I thought he was beaten but the 'Cullen drive' got him back up."

The trainer completed a quick double when stablecompanion Savitha followed up under Robbie Moran in the Menapia Classic Mouldings Hurdle. Sent off the 2/1 favourite, the seven-year-old mare cruised to a nine-length victory over Boleyknowsbest and Nolan indicated afterwards that she might contest the Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse on her next outing.

Earmark, who was bought out of John Oxx's yard as an unraced three-year-old, opened his account over timber when taking the honours for trainer Tom Arnold and owner Jim Gough in the Hamford Stud Maiden Hurdle. Michael Darcy's mount was not extended to score by two and a half lengths after the 6/4 favourite Elcanos blundered and unseated his rider at the final flight when in second place. Gough commented: "He's just been on a learning curve since he came to us, but he's an improving little horse and has improved with every run."