Max back on track in Manifesto Mad Max (4-1) atoned for an unlucky run at Cheltenham with a classy victory in the totepool Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree. The giant gelding still held every chance in the Arkle when blundering at the second-last and coming home fourth. In front of him in second that day was Henrietta Knight's Somersby, who was sent off the 6-4 favourite to go one better. Barry Geraghty got a great tune out of Nicky Henderson's Mad Max in front and while Somersby made numerous mistakes behind the pace-setter, the winner was in a great rhythm throughout. Somersby did draw level in the straight but Mad Max pulled away to win by nine lengths. Henderson said: "We have upped him in trip and just let him do his own thing. "Look at the size of him, these fences are like hurdles to him. "He can't quicken but he just keeps on galloping and I was keen to go two and a half miles with him. "He ran a great race in the Arkle and but for a mistake two out he may have second or third instead of fourth. "That is it for the season and I think we will have to try three miles next season." Silver Adonis put in a spring-heeled performance to win the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase and cause a 50-1 upset in the process. Trained by Dr Philip Newland, he finished a 33-length second in a hunter chase at Ludlow on his last start. As usual there were plenty of casualties among the 21 runners, not least Cheltenham winner Baby Run. Van Ness was prominent throughout but Tom Weston took over at the head of affairs on Silver Adonis crossing the Melling Road. Blu Teen looked a threat but flattened out and was eventually passed by Moncadou at the Elbow, although even he was three and three-quarter lengths down at the line. Weston said: "We came here this morning and thought the ground was a bit too soft for him. "We half thought about not running him, but we decided to give it a go and I can't believe it. I'm in shock. "It's a very long way from the last. I was praying for the line." There was light at the end of the tunnel for Alan King as Sir Harry Ormesher (16-1) provided him with a welcome big winner in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle. It has been a pretty miserable season for the Barbury Castle handler, who was winless at Cheltenham, and he could be forgiven for wanting the season to end. However, Sir Harry Ormesher, who ran well to finish seventh in the Coral Cup, emerged from the pack to overtake the long-time leader Black Jack Blues between the final two flights. Pistolet Noir returned to something like the form he showed earlier in the season under a patient ride from Walsh but could never quite get on terms. Robert Thornton kept the winner up to his work to win by three-quarters of a length from the rallying Black Jack Blues. Pistolet Noir was third with Siberian Tiger fourth. King said: "It is a relief to come here and have a winner in what has not been a vintage season. "We thought he would make a high-class chaser but he had a fall at Cheltenham and it frightened the life out of him. "I don't know what we will do about Punchestown. This might be it for the season, but I just want to enjoy today." Chaninbar (20-1) was given a fabulous front-running ride by Sean Quinlan to turn the Alder Hay Imagine Appeal Red Rum Handicap Chase into a procession.
