Waining lands Topham treble

Always Waining remarkably won the John Smith‘s Topham Chase over the big Grand National fences for the third year in succession for trainer 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 with aplomb, the 11-1 chance was one of a small group vying for the lead rounding the turn for home and Fistral Beach looked to be travelling strongest, but it was Always Waining who got away from the final fence quickest and he ran on strongly to score by four and a half lengths.

Chance Du Roy grabbed the runner-up spot from Fistral Beach, with Aimigayle taking fourth.

Winning jockey Tom O’Brien said: “He’s absolutely amazing. He gives everyone who rides him a great spin around here and I’m delighted with that. He hears the crowd and he just takes off.

“I knew Chance Du Roy would take some passing as I won on him last time. It’s hard to win big races these days. It’s amazing to get a big one on the board.”

Bowen added: “This has made our season. Our horses have been coughing and they’ve not been right for a while. We worked him last week and thought he was in real good form. We took him out of the National because of the ground. It’s some achievement to win three Tophams.”