Racing:Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Finian's Rainbow had no trouble stepping up in distance in the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree this afternoon.
The nine-year-old looked to have stamina limitations early in the season but following a determined victory in the two-mile championship at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, he was the 13-8 favourite for this two-and-a-half-mile Grade One.
Nicky Henderson’s gelding travelled with his customary panache under Barry Geraghty and he and the resurgent Wishfull Thinking dropped Albertas Run after the home turn.
Wishfull Thinking stuck to his task doggedly, but Finian’s Rainbow was going easily the best of the pair approaching the final fence and he jumped it fast and low to seal a seven-length victory.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Darlanwent one place better under Tony McCoy in the opening Tangle Teezer Top Novices' Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old was sent off the 7-4 favourite on the strength of his excellent Cheltenham run behind Cinders And Ashes and he travelled powerfully into the straight under the champion jockey.
His stable companion Captain Conan was also going well for Geraghty and the two of them quickly put distance between themselves and the rest of the field.
Darlan was beginning to win the argument heading towards the final flight and he got away from it well on his way to a three-and-three-quarter-length win.
Captain Conan was second to enhance Henderson’s bid to be crowned English champion trainer, with Prospect Wells, trained by Henderson’s rival Paul Nicholls, back in third.
Nicholls struck back immediately with Silviniaco Conti, who ran out a most impressive winner of the John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase.
The 7-4 favourite travelled beautifully in the hands of Ruby Walsh, who cut a confident figure going down the back straight.
Fencing accurately throughout the three-mile-one-furlong test, Silviniaco Conti carried himself to the front before the turn for home and only Champion Court was able to go with him.
But the latter was on and off the bridle and Silviniaco Conti left him for dead in the straight, coming home with 13 lengths in hand.
Always Wainingremarkably won the John Smith's Topham Chase for the third year in succession for Peter Bowen.
The 11-year-old rarely shows much sparkle for the majority of the season but come Aintree in April, the veteran springs to life.
Once again jumping the Grand National fences with aplomb, the 11-1 chance was one of a small group vying for the lead rounding the turn for home, with Chance Du Roy, Fistral Beach and Aimigayle all in the mix.
Fistral Beach looked to be travelling strongest, but it was Always Waining who got away from the final fence quickest and he made his way up the lengthy run in to score by four and a half lengths.
Chance Du Roy (16-1) grabbed the runner-up spot from Fistral Beach (22-1) with Aimigayle (12-1) taking fourth.