Racing - Aintree:Ryanair Chase hero Albertas Run was given a typically power-packed ride by Tony McCoy to land the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree this afternoon. Sent off at 8-1 to follow up his Cheltenham exploits, Jonjo O'Neill's nine-year-old was never far off the pace under the champion jockey and took over from Monet's Garden halfway up the home straight.
Champion Chase runner-up Forpadydeplasterer came at him jumping the final fence but Albertas Run and McCoy were in determined mood and found more to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Monet's Garden ran another game race and was stayed on again later in the day to claim third. Joint favourite Kalahari King fell at the second fence.
Wayward Prince (9-1) reeled in the front running Western Leader to take the Grade One John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle for Ian Williams.
Western Leader was sent off the 5-1 favourite under Conor O'Farrell and set a strong pace throughout the three-mile contest.
Halfway up the straight it looked as though he had enough in hand to repel the challengers, but his stride shortened after jumping the final flight and Wayward Prince and Dougie Costello got on top to score by six lengths with Cannington Brook third.
Always Waining ran away with an incident-packed renewal of the John Smith's Topham Chase over the National fences.
Ridden by Brian Hughes for Peter Bowen, the nine-year-old could be seen travelling and jumping sweetly throughout.
Howard Johnson's Frankie Figg set a tremendous pace up front in the hands of Wilson Renwick and for a long way the race only concerned the front two.
Always Waining was definitely travelling the better when Frankie Figg unseated Renwick two fences from home which meant he came home in splendid isolation.
The winner finished fourth in the race last year but was pulled up over hurdles on his last outing, meaning he was sent off at 22-1.
Willie Mullins' Scotsirish ran a cracker under top weight to come home second but he was 12 lengths away. Isn't that Lucky and the Mullins-trained Dooneys Gate took the minor honours.
Burton Port defied a big drift in the market to run out an impressive winner of the matalan.co.uk Mildmay Novices' Chase.
Despite running a cracking race in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham behind Weapon's Amnesty, Henderson's charge drifted out to 9-2 for the Grade Two contest.
He had got warm beforehand but Geraghty was always in the perfect position on Trevor Hemmings' six-year-old and set off in pursuit of Door Boy on the run to the second-last.
Some sure-footed jumping sealed the victory and it was left to 33-1 outsider Dance Island to chase him home, clinging on for second from Take The Breeze but they were over three lengths away.
Nicky Henderson's General Miller (7-1) wore down hot favourite Menorah to take top honours in the John Smith's Top Novices' Hurdle.
The latter was sent off the 7-4 favourite to supplement his Supreme Novices' Hurdle success and all appeared to be going well when the Philip Hobbs inmate hit the front halfway up the straight.
But General Miller - a first-flight casualty at Cheltenham - was on his tail jumping the final flight and eventually got the better of the market leader on the run-in to score by a neck.
2.00 Top Novices' Hurdle
1 General Miller (B J Geraghty) 7-1
2 Menorah (R Johnson) 7-4 Fav
3 Inventor (J M Maguire) 12-1
9 ran
Also: 5-1 La Sarrazine 4th
2.35 Mildmay Novices' Chase
1 Burton Port (B J Geraghty) 9-2
2 Dance Island (C Poste) 33-1
3 Take The Breeze (R Walsh) 8-1
10 ran
Also: 11-4 Fav Ogee, 8-1 Lenabane 4th
3.10 John Smith's Melling Chase
1 Albertas Run (A P McCoy) 8-1
2 Forpadydeplasterer (D N Russell) 4-1 Jt Fav
3 Monet's Garden (R Johnson) 15-2
11 ran
Also: 4-1 Jt Fav Kalahari King, 14-1 Tartak 4th
3.45 Topham Chase
1 Always Waining (B Hughes) 22-1
2 Scotsirish (Paul Townend) 14-1
3 Isn't That Lucky (Mr S Waley-Cohen) 16-1
4 Dooneys Gate (D J Condon) 28-1
27 ran
Also: 7-1 Fav Offshore Account
4.20 Sefton Novices' Hurdle
1 Wayward Prince (D C Costello) 9-1
2 Western Leader (Conor O'Farrell) 5-1 Fav
3 Cannington Brook (J Tizzard) 20-1
14 ran
Also: 20-1 Premier Victory 4th
4.55 John Smith's Handicap Hurdle
1 Ringaroses (A P McCoy) 10-1
2 Carsonstown Boy (A J McNamara) 16-1
3 Bob 'n' You (P J Brennan) 11-1
4 Buena Vista (H Frost) 12-1
21 ran
Also: 8-1 Fav Cross Kennon
5.30 Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race