Jumping from fence to fence, the 14-1 chance looked as though he might not last home as he was challenged in the straight, but he battled all the way to give Murphy his third win in the race after Joes Edge (2005) and Paris Pike (2000). Hot Weld held his stablemate, the 5-1 favourite Nine de Sivola, by half a length. Parsons Legacy (8-1) was a length and a quarter away in third, with last year's winner Run For Paddy (12-1) fourth.

A delighted Murphy said, "We had every confidence in him [McDonald] and he's delivered. If the horse is good enough, PJ can do the job."

McDonald added, "This is absolutely brilliant. You dream of days like this after you watch the big boys ride the winners. It was a great training performance by the boss. He's laid out this horse for this race and he proves it every year in the big races.

He's a great trainer.

"I was just hoping the line was going to come in time.

My horse was idling a bit in front until the others came to him. The boss knows him and he just told me to keep squeezing and this lad will keep galloping, " he added.

The Paul Nicholls-Ruby Walsh dream team shows no signs whatsoever of grinding to halt as the season draws to a close and the pair dominated the first day of the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr. Walsh moved to the top of the jockeys' prizemoney list for the campaign as he completed a double on the Nicholls-trained Otto Des Pictons and Petit Lord.

His win and place earnings in Britain now total nearly �2.3million, with Nicholls having provided him with 66 of his 71 successes in Britain.