Rider Sam Thomas had two winners over the weekend

Joint favourite Bewleys Berry made a valiant challenge in the closing stages but finished a length adrift in second, with 18-1 shot Pak Jack third.

Only seven of the 19 runners completed the three-and-a-quarter mile course.

It capped a fine weekend for Thomas and trainer Paul Nicholls, who won the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

"I trained him for this race since he ran at Cheltenham the other day," Nichols enthused.

"He goes left, he's game, he gallops - Grand National roll on. We'll look forward to that."

There was a gap of 19 lengths between second and third places, with another Nicholls-trained horse Le Duc a further three lengths back in fourth.