Aintree:A crashing fall from Denman at the second-last fence helped Madison Du Berlais run out a comfortable winner of the totesport Bowl, while Ruby Walsh landed his first winner on Big Bucks in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree this afternoon.
Denman was sent off a short-priced favourite to go one better than when chasing home stablemate Kauto Star in the Gold Cup.
However, the Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old was niggled along in the early stages by Sam Thomas.
Denman still made ground to challenge Madison Du Berlais for the lead two obstacles from home, before getting it all wrong and parting company with Thomas.
David Pipe’s 12-1 shot was left well clear of Exotic Dancer, passing the post four and a half lengths clear.
“He’s very tough I was a bit worried when Denman came upsides me but when I didn’t go on, I knew he’d keep on jumping and galloping,” said winning jockey Tom Scudamore.
“Denman’s a great racehorse and it’s a shame to see great champion fall. Madison has jumped from fence to fence. He gave me a tremendous thrill.
“He’s been a great flagbearer for the stable this season. We haven’t had a good season as we would have liked, but days like this make it easier.
“He’s very special to me. He’s won a Hennessy and he’s won for me around Aintree.
“He’s been very good to me.”
Trust Fund landed the spoils with a game performance in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase.
The 11-year-old jumped into the lead at the second-last under Tom Greenall but had to be kept up to his work on the long run to the line to hold last year’s winner Christy Beamish.
Trust Fund (13-2) stayed on strongly to win by four lengths.
Irish challenger Having A Cut (16-1) was third, another three and three-quarter lengths away.
De Luain Gorm made the early running but he took a crashing fall at the Chair, leaving Strong Weld in front.
He still held a narrow advantage two out, at which there were nine in with a winning chance, but it was Trust Fund who powered away from the opposition.
Earlier Big Buck’s stayed on strongly in the hands of Ruby Walsh to win the Liverpool Hurdle. Walsh, a record breaker at Cheltenham with seven winners, made the perfect start to the Grand National festival.
Sent off the 5-6 favourite, having won the World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, the Paul Nicholls inmate was shoved along before the turn for home - with dual Liverpool Hurdle winner Mighty Man (9-2) travelling strongly at the head of affairs.
However, Big Buck’s slowly reeled him in between the final two flights.
After jumping the last the better of the two, Walsh’s partner galloped away to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Triumph Hurdle runner-up Walkon went one better with a very impressive display in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle.
The 2-1 favourite travelled strongly throughout in the hands of Robert Thornton and came to take the lead from Ski Sunday after jumping three from home.
The latter refused to go down without a fight but Walkon had too many guns and stretched clear on the run to the line to score by 13 lengths. Starluck was the same distance away in third.
Aintree Results
2.00 John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle
1 Big Buck's (R Walsh) 5-6 Fav
2 Mighty Man (R Johnson) 9-2
3 Fair Along (R Flint) 10-1
10 ran
Also: 12-1 Pettifour 4th
2.35 Matalan 4-Y-O Novices Hurdle
1 Walkon (R Thornton) 2-1 Fav
2 Ski Sunday (S E Durack) 12-1
3 Starluck (T J Murphy) 5-2
13 ran
Also: 5-2 Hebridean 4th
3.10 Totesport Bowl Chase
1 Madison Du Berlais (T Scudamore) 12-1
2 Exotic Dancer (A P McCoy) 7-2
3 Albertas Run (R Thornton) 11-1
10 ran
Also: Evens Fav Denman, 28-1 Our Vic 4th
3.45 John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase
1 Trust Fund (Mr T Greenall) 13-2
2 Christy Beamish (Miss C Allen) 12-1
3 Having A Cut (Mr J T McNamara) 16-1
29 ran
Also: 7-2 Fav Agus A Vic, 10-1 Mcevoy 4th
4.20 John Smith's Red Rum Handicap Chase
1 Oh Crick (R Thornton) 7-1 JFav
2 Lord Jay Jay (L Treadwell) 40-1
3 Tramantano (P J Brennan) 16-1
4 Leslingtaylor (D C Costello) 7-1 Co Fav
17 ran
Also: 7-1 Co Fav Bambi De L'orme, Valain
4.55 John Smith's manifesto Novices' Chase
1 Tartak (P J Brennan) 11-2
2 Deep Purple (Paul Moloney) 16-1
3 Planet Of Sound (R Johnson) 10-3
8 ran
Also: 15-8 Fav Chapoturgeon, 11-2 Calgary Bay 4th
5.30 Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle
1 Sunnyhillboy (A P McCoy) 8-1
2 Prince Taime (R Johnson) 14-1
3 Bedlam Boy (D N Russell) 28-1
4 Carrickboy (S Thomas) 40-1
22 ran
Also: 7-1 Jt Fav Big Eared Fran, Hernando Royal