Irish strike in Aintree opener

Puck Out (10-1) got the Irish off to a great start on Grand National day as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Martell Cordon Bleu Handicap Hurdle.

The Christy Roche-trained six-year-old jumped the second-last with a slight advantage as long-time leader Fundamental began to weaken.

Demi Beau looked a danger jumping the final flight but crashed out as Puck Out stuck on strongly under Mark Walsh.

Fundamental was a game runner-up, with Jack Dawson third and Greenhope, who was another to race prominently, fourth.