Linnel foiled by former stablemate Stewards Stewarts House (11/2) narrowly beat the gambled-on Linnel in the Betfred Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday. The latter was sent off the 7/2 favourite after attracting plenty of money throughout the day and he cruised through the race under Paul Carberry before a mistake at the final fence cost him vital momentum. Stewarts House regained the inititative under Aidan Coleman and despite the best efforts of Linnel he held on to win by a neck. The pair pulled 32 lengths clear of Buffalo Bob (5/1) in third. Vaughan said: "We bought him for £11,000 and I bought 15 at that sale and was struggling to pay the bills. "I rang the lads (owners) up and asked them to help me out and it's lovely to repay them. "I'd love to run him in the National. On better ground he could be just the type to hunt round and get involved on the last circuit."
