Deep Cave plunders opening prize.
Grand National Day at Aintree got underway with the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle over an extended three miles, which saw the 28/1 chance Deep Cave get up close home to score by a length from Irish raider Timmy Tuesday.
Winning trainer Christian Williams, who finished second as a jockey in the Grand National on Royal Auclair and saddled Kitty's Light to finish fifth last year, said: "That was brilliant. It's very special to have winners at these meetings, but we didn't have anything for Cheltenham, and we've come here with just the one runner, so for him to go and win is great.
"The owner (Caolan Woods) has been patient all year. He had a break to freshen him up and then we targeted this meeting. It's probably taken us a long time to figure him out, but we thought he'd be better on nice ground, and he's going to be very special over fences next year. He won a novice chase in France, so he's not a novice, but he'll hopefully be a Saturday horse."
Asked if he always thought he was going to get there, winning jockey Jack Tudor said: "I did, actually, yes. I thought jumping two out… we've ridden him a bit more on the pace before and found when he gets there, he doesn't do too much. Whereas I was happy today that I had something to aim at all the way from two out. I didn't think we went a mad gallop early doors but got going down the back and got racing up in front turning in – it's worked out nicely."
He added: "I don't think he is a proper soft ground horse, he's a good-moving horse and good ground is… the ground they've got here today for us, you wouldn't get it anywhere else, it's perfect."
On what it means to win at Aintree, Tudor said: "It's what it's about. It's where you want to be riding and where you want to be riding winners. Delighted.
"Aintree do a great job with the ground - the weather hasn't made it easy for clerks of the course recently, but it's lovely ground, on the easy side of good with great grass cover and very level. It's great to be riding here on this day."
Later on the card, Cruz Control repeated his success of 12 months ago to once again come out on top in the William Hill Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong.
Partnered once again by Stan Sheppard, the eight-year-old stayed on well to overcome 11-4 Favourite Imperial Saint by five lengths.
Winning trainer Tom Lacey: "I'm delighted to be able to get him back on track - he'd completely lost his way. He ran ok in Punchestown, and Stan just said to me afterwards, 'He's proper tired', and it's taken until now to get him really back on song. We mixed it up at home - took him to the beach, jumped the Aintree fences at Lambourn with him, and I'm so delighted for the owners, who are great supporters of mine.
"We've sweetened him up - did more slow work, gave him some away days, and the sun on his back.
"It's just my name on the licence - there's a team of lads at home doing all the work, and it's great. This turns the whole season around and reinforces the fact that we can do it."
Stan Shepard said: "He does [come alive]. He hasn't been in the same form he was in last year, not even close to it, but he obviously likes a bit of sun on his back. Tom has done a great job with him; he hasn't rushed him when he knew he wasn't right, he didn't run him. It's a great team effort to get him back here."
On back-to-back wins on the horse in this race, Sheppard said: "I wouldn't mind if he tried to do it next year as well, it would be even better!
"On Boxing Day at Wetherby, he jumped like a bag of spanners, which is so unlike him, and it was after that we found the ulcers, and everyone's worked really hard to get him into such good form again. It kills me to say it but that was a great training performance from Tom! We said last year we just need to get big one; last year we got two, and this our big one today."
Favourite Imperial Saint, successful in three handicaps over shorter distances at Aintree this season, ran another brave race in second.
Joint trainer Philip Hobbs said: "He's been progressive all year, winning three here, and that was another step in the right direction. Hopefully there will be more to come again next season. He has to go left-handed, and he might start in the Paddy Power, as he's effective over two and a half."
