Racing: The Irish-trained Hi Cloy held the late thrust of Fota Island to take top honours in the Grade One John Smith's Melling Chase on the second day of the Aintree festival.
Andrew McNamara hit the front turning for home aboard the 14-1 winner but he was made to work hard for his victory as Fota Island stayed on grimly under McCoy.
However, the Michael Hourigan-trained winner dug deep to prevail by three-quarters of a length, while Mariah Rollins completed a clean sweep for the Irish raiders, a further 13 lengths back in third.
Central House, who was visored for the first time, set a testing early pace under Paul Carberry with Impek settled in second on the rail.
However, when push came to shove as the three Irish runners came through, that pair quickly dropped away with 100-30 favourite Impek being pulled up.
Fondmort, winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, never really got into it and was also pulled up some way from home.
Sam Waley-Cohen completed a famous double over the National fences when he steered Liberthine to success in the John Smith's And Spar Topham Chase.
Waley-Cohen took the Fox Hunters' Chase over the daunting course on the opening day of the meeting and he was seen to good effect once again aboard the 16-1 winner.
Liberthine took over from long-time leader Hakim coming to the last and the Nicky Henderson-trained mare stayed on well to win by one and a half lengths from that rival, while Pak Jack was a further five lengths back in third.
Black Jack Ketchum destroyed his rivals in the Citroen C6 Sefton Novices' Hurdle. Jonjo O'Neill's runner had strolled home in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and the seven-year-old obliged in style again under McCoy.
Although the 3-18 favourite clattered the second-last flight, he was soon back on the bridle and McCoy only had to push him out for a five-length success over Money Trix, with Neptune Collonges back in third.
Gungadu was a reluctant leader in the early stages before stablemate Neptune Collonges came through to take it up, setting a reasonable gallop before stepping up the pace coming to the eighth flight.
Black Jack Ketchum was settled towards the rear before McCoy made his move turning for home, boasting a double-handful aboard the unbeaten seven-year-old. As his rivals got down to some serious work, McCoy only had to let the reins out a notch for Black Jack Ketchum to accelerate away by an ever-increasing margin.
McCoy enjoyed another easy victory as Straw Bear (2-1f) ran out a convincing winner of the novices' hurdle.
Star De Mohaison galloped his rivals into the ground to complete a big-race double in the John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase. Paul Nicholls' charge won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham and followed up in style when claiming this three mile, one furlong event.
Barry Geraghty took it up on the 11-4 favourite at the 11th fence and he stayed on well on the run-in to hold the late challenge of Turpin Green by two lengths, with Copsale Lad the same distance back in third.