Druids Nephew enhances National claims
Brought into the 25-furlong contest on the final circuit after Annacotty had made the running with Azure Fly and Grand Jesture, The Druids Nephew (8-1) hit the front two out.
Barry Geraghty kept the eight-year-old galloping strongly to score by three and three-quarter lengths from Grand Jesture (25-1) and give Neil Mulholland his first Festival winner.
Gallant Oscar was a length and a half away in third, with Indian Castle fourth (16-1) and Pendra (9-1), ridden by AP McCoy, fifth.
Geraghty said: “He jumped nicely. Every time I gave him a squeeze, he quickened.
“It’s only when you come here (Cheltenham) you realise what it means (to have a winner).
“Everyone wants to ride a winner so it’s good to have got one on the board.”
Mulholland said: “We’ve kept him for this for a while and thankfully it’s paid off. Things are going well, but it’s all about Cheltenham. This is our World Cup.”
Of the Grand National, Mulholland added: “I’ll have to have a word with Barry about it. I’m not going to talk it up now, it’s all for another day and I want to enjoy this first.”
