Waley-Cohen wins over National fences again Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen claimed a sixth victory over the Grand National fences at Aintree as Rajdhani Express galloped clear in the Crabbie's Topham Chase. Favourite for the Grade One Melling Chase on the same card 12 months ago, the Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old has endured a largely disappointing campaign this time around, but did shape with some promise in defeat at Cheltenham last month. The 10-1 shot was given time to find his feet by Waley-Cohen before creeping closer, and in an eventful race he tracked the positively ridden Fairy Rath into the straight before staying on best from the elbow to emerge victorious by 10 lengths. Fairy Rath was in turn clear of Rathlin in third, with Henderson's top-weight Hunt Ball fourth. Waley-Cohen said: "He was so good. He wasn't sure over the first couple so I just wanted to keep positive, but he's got so much scope. "The last ditch I was on a really long stride and thinking 'please come up', and he did. "He's been a superstar for us, we bred him at home. I really fancied him for this for a long time, as he's such a natural jumper. "You just need so much luck. You need the others to leave you alone. I saw a loose horse running down a fence at one point and I was thinking 'oh oh, Foinavon again', but we missed him." Henderson added: "It's an extraordinary thing, he (Waley-Cohen) does have an affinity with these fences, you can't put it into words really. "It's an extraordinary record. We've been teaming up for a few years - we just need to find the clue to a Grand National between us because I think that is our third Topham in a row, it's just harder to find the Saturday one. "He was very good when we schooled him the other day and he looked the right article. "I'll be cheering him on tomorrow." Trainer Nick Gifford said of Fairy Rath: "That was terrific. It''s been two years in the planning. I wanted to run him last year, but he probably wouldn't have got in. "The whole campaign has been built around this race. This has reinforced my opinion of this horse, that he was made for Aintree. "We'll have to try and go for the National next year. He's the right age, but there's only one way for him to run. He doesn't like being held up." Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for Rathlin's owners Gigginstown House Stud, said: "We're proud of our horse. He couldn't go the early pace and made one mistake that cost him any chance of winning the race, but that Sam Waley-Cohen is phenomenal."
