Top Irish jockey Ruby Walsh has already tasted Aintree success at this year's meet after he rode home first on board Fadalko in the Martell Melling Chase today. Walsh, who won last year's Grand National on Papillon, trained by his father Ted, is hoping to repeat the victory tomorrow and went the best way about it with an easy win on Fadalko today, his first victory since Naas on February 25. The Paul Nicholls-trained horse, with odds of 9-2, came home 16-lengths ahead of Lady Cricket at 8-1, and Direct Route a further 13 lengths back in third.
"He's a really talented horse when he's right," said Nicholls afterwards. "He's best when fresh and he's a real Spring horse and I really fancied him for the Champion Chase. He doesn't need to run again this season and his two main targets next year will be the Champion Chase and back here again."
"He gave me a super ride, he jumped great and won it really well," added Walsh. However, it was a day of mixed fortunes for the Irish jockey as he fell at the first in the John Hughes Trophy Chase over the Grand National fences on board Extra Jack. That race was eventually won by the Philip Hobbs-trained Gower-Slave, ridden by Richard Johnson. Further heavy rain at the Aintree course has also given Walsh cause for concern ahead of tomorrow's main event. "It will affect him (Papillon) - he's better on good ground - but it's far from bottomless," he explained.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
