Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen claimed a sixth victory over the Grand National fences at Aintree as Rajdhani Express galloped clear in the Crabbie's Topham Chase.
Favourite for the Grade One Melling Chase on the same card 12 months ago, the Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old has endured a largely disappointing campaign this time around, but did shape with some promise in defeat at Cheltenham last month.
Among the leading contenders for his return to Merseyside as a 10-1 shot, Rajdhani Express was given time to find his feet by Waley-Cohen before creeping closer down the back straight.
In a eventful race in which plenty to came to grief, Rajdhani Express was well placed from the Canal Turn and tracked the positively-ridden Fairy Rath into the straight.
The pair had it between them after jumping the final fence and it was Henderson's charge who stayed on best from the elbow to emerge victorious by 10 lengths.
Fairy Rath was in turn clear of Rathlin in third, with Henderson's top-weight Hunt Ball fourth.
Waley Cohen said: "He was so good. He wasn't sure over the first couple so I just wanted to keep positive but he's got so much scope.
"The last ditch I was on a really long stride and thinking 'please come up' and he did.
"He's been a superstar for us, we bred him at home. I really fancied him for this for a long time, as he's such a natural jumper.
"You just need so much luck. You need the others to leave you alone, I saw a loose horse running down a fence at one point and I was thinking 'oh oh, Foinavon again' but we missed him."
Henderson said: "It's an extraordinary thing, he does have an affinity with these fences, you can't put it into words really.
"It's an extraordinary record, we've been teaming up for a few years - we just need to find the clue to a Grand National between us because I think that is our third Topham in a row, it's just harder to find the Saturday one.
"He was very good when we schooled him the other day and he looked the right article.
"I'll be cheering him on tomorrow."
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson would appear to have an exciting novice chasing prospect on his hands for next season after Cyrus Darius (8-1) romped to to victory in the E-Lites Top Novices' Hurdle.
The six-year-old put his rivals to the sword as he pulled clear in the closing stages to give jockey Brian Hughes his 99th winner of the campaign.
There was 10 lengths back to Vago Collonges in second place, with Qewy third.
Jefferson said: "It's always hard to throw them in the deep end.
"The owner wanted to go to Perth, but I thought he's going to grass after this so we'll take our chance.
"He's a lovely, big horse that travels really well. I've always longed to have a really good two-mile chaser and he could be the one.
"He has a lot of speed and he's very nimble."
Conditional jockey Jerry McGrath got the better of champion Tony McCoy to land the spoils in the Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle on Theinval (7-1).
McGrath brought the Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old to join the leaders at the third-last flight before going on two out, only to discover the threatening presence of the soon-to-retire McCoy coming at him on the run home on the 11-2 favourite The Saint James.
However, the 3lb claimer kept Theinval up to his work to win by half a length. Daneking was a length away in third, while Stonebrook fourth.
Henderson felt Thenival deserved his success after not making the cut at Cheltenham.
"He's a horse that's been doing everything right. He was unlucky to just get ballotted out at Cheltenham," he said.
"We ran him in the consolation race at Kempton, which was a great idea. He won that and consequently got a penalty for it.
"He's done well to win again and it's great he's got his proper prize.
"He's going the right way and is very likeable. He's a nice, genuine, uncomplicated horse. Barry (Geraghty) suggested we put earplugs in him.
"We miss him (Geraghty, injured) but we've got a great team and Jerry gave him a lovely ride."
