Exotic Dancer was a cut above his rivals at Aintree

Jockey Tony McCoy took the 6-4 favourite to victory ahead of My Will, with Our Vic finishing the Grade Two race in third place.

Our Vic and State of Play set off at a good pace in the 3m 1f race, with McCoy happy to keep his horse at the back of the field.

Hopes of an upset were raised by a couple of poor jumps from Exotic Dancer, but as the race neared its closing stages the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up swept effortlessly into the lead.

The enigmatic Turpin Green struggled to keep up with the pack, while My Will, with Ruby Walsh on board, gamely tried to keep Exotic Dancer at bay at the front.

But the Jonjo O'Neill-trained seven-year-old had far too much class for his rivals.

"It was nice to watch," O'Neill told BBC Sport.

"They went a nice gallop and he jumped reasonably well, he did hit one or two fences but he did everything easily really.

"The further they went, the better he got. He did it nice and sweet.

"He's done nothing but improve this year. He's just hit the right note and gone the right way."

I had no doubt if he got round in one piece, , he was going to win Exotic Dancer jockey Tony McCoy

McCoy admitted Exotic Dancer had not been at his best in the early stages.

"He was very impressive," said McCoy.

"But he didn't jump the first circuit for some reason. He had the best form in the race and I had no doubt if he got round in one piece, and showed any of his form, he was going to win.

"He had the most solid form with Kauto Star all year.

"He's got loads of class. Obviously, Kauto Star is the superstar everyone said he was, but we look forward to having another go at him next year."

McCoy missed out on a win in the opening race of the meeting as Richard Johnson steered Mighty Man to his second successive win in the Liverpool Hurdle.

After a slow start to the race, the Henry Daly-trained gelding took the lead with five to go.

He looked totally at ease, despite a late challenge from the McCoy's Black Jack Ketchum, and strolled home by around 12 lengths.

Favourite Katchit won the Novices' Hurdle with a classy display to finish ahead of Punjabi in second, with Degas Art a distant third.

Scots Grey gave a brave performance to win his race

"I'm very pleased with him," said jockey Robert Thornton.

"He's obviously got ability, but a lot of it is attitude - he just loves the game."

Scots Grey showed real courage to hold off a really strong challenge from Pak Jack in the Fox Hunters' Chase.

The 12-year-old led from the start, but Pak Jack edged ahead with two fences left and looked to be in the box seat for the win.

But Richard Burton managed to get Scots Grey to respond, and win by half a length. Nina Carberry came from well back to finish third on Where Now.

Bambi De L'Orme won his first race in two years in the Red Rum Handicap Chase, leading Marshall Hall and Locksmith home, with Dominic Elsworth in the saddle.

There was a nasty fall for Ruby Walsh, who will ride Hedgehunter in the Grand National on Saturday, on Andreas during the same race, but the Irishman is expected to be fit to ride at the weekend.

606: DEBATE Discuss Thursday's racing at Aintree

In the Citroen Novices' Hurdle race, Tidal Bay denied McCoy his second win of the day.

McCoy's Wins Now finished second after a mistake at the last fence, with Bedlam Boyin third.

And there was a dramatic end to the action, with Two Miles West edging past Gods Token in the final race of the day, the John Smith's Handicap Hurdle.

Special Envoy made all the running and was well clear when he unseated jockey Tom O'Brien at the final hurdle, to leave Shatabdi in the lead.

But Sam Waley-Cohen's mount was overhauled at the death by Two Miles West on the rail and Gods Token on the near side with Noel Fehily's horse winning by a head on the line.