1 Ma Filleule 9/1
2 Bennys Mist 33/1
3 Eastlake 25/1
4 Tatenen 25/1
30 ran Distances: 8l, 1l, 1¼l
TIME 5m 23.20s (slow by 2.20s)

The Nicky Henderson-trained mare Ma Filleule ran her male rivals ragged in the Crabbie's Supporting Everton In The Community Topham Chase, landing the biggest win of her career by eight lengths.

Ma Filleule
© Racehorse Photos

Her partner Barry Geraghty, who notched his second victory of the day, said: "The biggest problem I had was getting Ma Filleule to go in to the fences on a short stride. She wanted to go long on everything and take the fences on, but she did jump brilliantly.

"She got on her head a little bit five fences from home but other than that she was very good and gave me a great ride.

"It wasn't the plan to be in front and that's the difference with the Grand National fences - in a normal handicap she would be a little bit outpaced, but she jumps so well that you end up getting to the front sooner than you would like.

"The Baylis & Harding Handicap form [at Cheltenham] is working out well with her and Holywell winning and it's a good indicator for The Package, who was third, in the National tomorrow."

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson added: "It looked great although I was trying to watch three horses, so it's quite difficult to tell what is going on.

"I was just a bit worried she might get outpaced early on but she managed to hold her place and then she got into a great rhythm. It looked as if Barry had a nice time."

Crabbie's Topham Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
£120,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 110y, Class 1
30 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places

BENNYS' JUMPING STANDS HIM IN GOOD STEAD

Bennys Mist may be known as a mud lover, but put Aintree's Crabbie's Grand National fences in his path and the ground is less of a relevance.

Bennys Mist
© racing-images.co.uk

That was proved today when he finished second in the Crabbie's Supporting Everton in the Community Topham Chase. Pulled up in the race last year, and then unplaced over the same fences in December's Becher Chase, he nonetheless showed his aptitude for jumping them, which decided trainer Venetia Williams on another return to Aintree.

After Aidan Coleman had returned on the eight-year-old, who was sporting a hood for the first time, the trainer said: "He's jumped really well over these fences in the past, and while he's done a lot of his winning on heavy ground, that is less important to him at this course."