Treble puts the smile back on Ruby's face

REPORT FROM AINTREE:THAT RUBY Walsh and Paul Nicholls enjoyed a 179 to 1 treble at Aintree yesterday was hardly a major surprise; but to manage it on the back of Master Minded being beaten perfectly illustrates the big-race stranglehold that jump racing's top team currently are exerting.

Walsh splits the team up by siding with his 2005 winner Hedgehunter in today's Grand National and those used to trailing in Nicholls' slipstream can take consolation in the champion trainer's blank record from 12 National runners in the past.

Yesterday, by common consent, Master Minded, the highest rated steeplechaser in these islands, was expected to have little more than a workout in the John Smith's Melling Chase but Cheltenham form with Voy Por Ustedes was turned around dramatically.

A mistake at the second last punctured any illusions of Master Minded staying further than two miles and, unlike Thursday's disagreement over riding tactics on Kauto Star, both Walsh and Nicholls readily took defeat on the chin.

"Ruby said he was cruising down the back but was running on empty turning for home.

"He made the mistake because he had nothing left. He's a two miler, pure and simple," said Nicholls.

While the runner-up will drop back in distance, a step up is likely for the winner whose trainer Alan King said: "He could start off in something like the Peterborough Chase and his first big target could well be the King George. He has a good record around Kempton."

Unlike the National there is nothing wrong with the Nicholls record over the big fences in other races and so it proved again in the Topham as the pony-sized five-year-old Gwanako held off Irish Raptor by a neck in a tight finish with Bothar Na third.

"He's only a little thing, barely 16 hands, and this is only his third chase. He was brilliant over Bechers, like he was on springs," enthused Nicholls.

And Walsh added: "He danced round there. He's an inexperienced horse but a wonderful jumper."

Only 12 of the 29 runners finished the Topham and there were two Irish-trained fatalities - Time To Sell who fell at the Chair and In The High Grass who fell at the eighth.

The Gwanako colours were also carried to success Grade Two novices chase on board Big Buck's who pounced late to overhaul Battlecry with the favourite Albertas Run in third.

"We've got a lot of French horses and he's the first who is not a natural jumper," Nicholls reported.

"It's going to be interesting next season with him, Denman, Kauto Star and the others. We'll look at some of the races in Ireland."

Captain Cee Bee was the big Irish hope of the day but he was a bitter failure in the Grade Two novices hurdle, being pulled up before the last when well beaten behind Pierrot Lunaire who is now 14 to 1 for next year's Champion Hurdle.

"He's a bloody good horse who has got his jumping together here. He missed Cheltenham, didn't have a penalty and he was my nap of the day!" Nicholls said.

Jockey Andrew Tinkler secured a perfect 'spare' in the handicap chase when Oedipe dominated from the front to land a 20 to 1 surprise while Nicky Henderson also supplied Carole's Legacy to spring an even greater 25 to 1 shock in the mares bumper.

Galway-born rider Paddy Brennan got the better of Tony McCoy as Pettifour just landed the Sefton Hurdle in a driving finish with Gone To Lunch but there was no doubting who was the afternoon's top jockey.

"If you thought we would have three winners today, you would have thought Master Minded would be one of them," laughed Ruby Walsh.

"What a great day!"