King Turgeon crowned with victory in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree

King Turgeon (6-1) grabbed victory in the BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree Racecourse. The David Pipe-trained six-year-old made a winning debut over the famous Randox Grand National fences to land the feature contest at Aintree.

Under Jack Tudor, the French import was jumping well and travelling superbly at the head of the affairs through much of the early part of the 2m4f contest. The bold jumping grey was headed coming to the Canal Turn but was still travelling well on the inside as he was passed by the late finishers Vintage Fizz (16-1), the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained Gabriolot (10-1) and Richmond Lake (18-1) – from the fellow Cheshire yard of Donald McCain. But King Turgeon rallied to regain the lead after the final fence coming to the Elbow and he battled on superbly to win by three-and-a-quarter-lengths from Vintage Fizz with Gabriolot a length back in third. Richmond Lake, who at one point looked to be the biggest danger to all under Theo Gilliard, was the same distance back in fourth with Sure Touch (17-2) fifth.

King Turgeon followed up his Chepstow win with another at Aintree having had wind surgery during the summer. He has now won four times since joining Pipe from Gabriel Leenders in 2022. And having won over three miles at Exeter, he could potentially return to Aintree next month for another crack at the Grand National fences in the Boylesports Becher Chase, run over the longer trip of 3m2f.

Pipe won the Grand National with Comply Or Die in 2008 and has also had success twice with another French import Vieux Lion Rouge in the Becher Chase run over the famous National fences. It was a second success for the Pond House handler in the Grand Sefton after Poole Master in 2014. But he wasn't at Aintree to see his latest triumph over the Grand National obstacles.

Tudor, landing a first victory over the Grand National fences, said: "He travelled round real nice, jumped round well. He got passed going to the Canal Turn. But I kept my slot down the inner and managed to save plenty of energy and took a breather and galloped all the way to the line. He has always been a good jumper and he took to the fences.

"We knew if he jumped the fences he'd love the place. He took to them early and got into a great rhythm, he saved plenty of energy in front. We know he'd keep going over this trip so it's good. He's probably improved a little bit for the summer off and he's a French horse and sometimes they take a while to adapt. But he is only six and is probably starting to come to himself now and come round to the British way of thinking. It is great to get a first win over the fences. It is always fun to ride over and to get the first win is special."

Pipe, speaking from Wincanton, added: "I am thrilled. It is brilliant for everyone in the yard. This is a massive win on a big Saturday for Pond House and his owners (Somerset Racing). We had this race in mind for him for a while and if he took to the fences like he does to normal fences, then he had a chance. He had schooled well over a Grand National fence at home. It was a fantastic ride by Jack."

On runner-up Vintage Fizz, trainer Jedd O'Keeffe said: "That was an absolutely outstanding run for us and really exciting. He was given a lovely ride (by Conor O'Farrell) and got into a lovely rhythm. It was a race we had wanted to target for some time and we have got lucky as he is basically a goodish ground horse and in other years he wouldn't have been so lucky – I think it was heavy last year. We just sneaked in at the bottom and he jumps boldly, as well as athletically and carefully, so this was a race we always fancied having a go at. The Topham Chase in the spring and this race again next year would be his targets if he gets his ground again. The Becher Chase would be too far for him, so he'll have his holiday now and come back in the spring."

Olly Murphy Deploy To Spy (4-1) won the Boylesports Extra Places Everyday Handicap Hurdle. Under Sean Bowen – who was completing a double on the day at Aintree after Hauti Couleurs earlier success – the six-year-old came through to challenge long-time leader Prolific Profile (9-2) after the final fence. He stayed on well to score by three-and-three-quarters-of-a-length from that Katy Price-trained rival with Donald McCain's Camarrate (9-2) a further five-and-a-half lengths back in third.

A bumper crowd in excess of 12,000 was at Aintree. There was 8,000 local students in attendance, many of whom were bussed in through a racecourse initiative.