Ultragold (winner, left, Harry Cobden, yellow cap)© Photo Healy Racing
Ultragold left a string of below-par efforts behind when making his first start over the Grand National fences a winning one in the Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase on a dream day for trainer Colin Tizzard at Aintree.
Although landing a handicap at Newbury in November, the nine-year-old had been well held in his previous four starts.
Keeping out of trouble throughout the two-mile-five-furlong contest, Harry Cobden's mount was one of a host of contenders in contention on the run down the last.
Grand Sefton winner As De Mee looked to have timed his challenge perfectly when momentarily going on over the final fence.
His effort, though, was short lived as Ultragold, under a determined Cobden, pressed on towards the elbow, defying odds of 50-1.
Although Irish raider Katnap threw down a late challenge in the closing strides, Ultragold was not for passing, with a length splitting the pair and a further six lengths back to Portrait King in third. O O Seven was another neck away in fourth.
Tizzard had earlier claimed Grade One honours on the card with Pingshou and Fox Norton
Cobden said: "What a thrill. My first thought is that I want to go round again and I can't wait to do it tomorrow in the National (on Just A Par).
"That was my first spin over the fences. Unbelievable. That was his first run over them too and he was back off his winning mark - I actually fancied him.
"He was very clever, dancing over ditches. There was a bit of carnage at Canal Turn but he knew what to do."
Tizzard said: "That was amazing, this racing game is something else.
"He ran quite well at Cheltenham and was dropped a few pounds and then he goes and wins a huge race like this.
"The people who own him are all good owners of ours and they got a partnership going.
"He wasn't what we thought we were buying, we thought he'd be a three-mile-two horse but he's ended up winning over two miles and that was two and a half today.
"Harry has hunted alongside me since he was a little boy. Three out I was just thinking 'sit still' and he did. He's a great little lad."
Joseph O'Brien said of Katnap: "He's run a very good race. He made a bad mistake which probably might have cost him the race. Other than that he jumped well and Danny (Mullins) gave him a great ride. We'll see how he is and make a plan."
