Filleule runs away with Topham Ma Filleule turned in a spring-heeled display over the Grand National fences to claim the Crabbie's Supporting Everton In The Community Topham Chase at Aintree. Having chased home Holywell, winner of the Mildmay Novices' Chase earlier on the card, at the Cheltenham Festival, Ma Filleule brought strong form to the race and was a 9-1 shot for a wide-open handicap. Nicky Henderson's charge travelled powerfully and jumped impeccably for much of the race, carting Barry Geraghty into a share of the lead after jumping the Canal Turn, and she left her rivals trailing in her wake going to the final fence before galloping all the way up the long-run to score by an eased-down eight lengths from Bennys Mist. Eastlake and Tatenen finished third and fourth respectively, with Double Ross fifth. Henderson, completing a double and on his way to a treble, along with his jockey, said: "She enjoyed that. I hoped she would. She seemed very good at home. She was a bit careful the first time and she had another practice on Tuesday just to make sure. "It looked good, but I was trying to watch three of them. I was a bit worried she might get outpaced early on, but she managed to hold her place. She got into a great rhythm and it looked like she had a nice time." The handler went on to suggest Ma Filleule might emulate last year's winner Triolo D'Alene and return for the National next year. "The idea in the Topham is to see if you can look at the National the next year," he said.
