grand national 2011 /

Always Waining Gets Double Compensation in Topham
08/04/11

1 Always Waining 14/1
2 Mon Parrain 7/2 Fav
3 Scotsirish 20/1
4 Gonebeyondrecall 33/1
30 ran

Always Waining once again showed his love for the Grand National fences with a second successive victory in the John Smith's Topham Chase at Aintree for Peter Bowen.

Always Waining
© Grossick Racing Photography

The 14-1 chance had been first reserve for the National itself until Friday morning, but was allowed to take his chance in the Topham after the deadline to get a run in the National passed.

Favourite Mon Parrain looked the likely winner when cruising into the lead in the straight and he appeared to have sealed victory with a fine jump at the last, but his tank emptied and Always Waining claimed him before pulling clear for a four-length win in the hands of Tom O'Brien.

The jockey said: "Unbelievable. He never knows when he's beaten. I thought I was only going to finish second, but he just comes alive when he hears the cheers. As soon as he heard the crowd he took off."

Bowen added: "He's just brilliant round here. He just loves this place. He ran so well last time over hurdles, so we were happy with him all the way.

"It's unlucky he didn't get in the National, but this is good compensation. Hopefully we'll be back next year. He's a star."

Paul Nicholls said of Mon Parrain: "It was a great run for a five-year-old. Ruby gave him a bit of a breather and maybe he was just doing too much and ran out of petrol.

"It was a close call whether to run here or in Denman's race and I'm not sure what his trip is. We'll look after him and probably start him off over two and a half miles next year."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Always Waining P Bowen	T J O'Brien 10st 4lbs	14 - 1 Winner
2	Mon Parrain P F Nicholls	R Walsh 11st 6lbs	7 - 2 4 lengths
3	Scotsirish W P Mullins	D J Condon 11st 10lbs	20 - 1 6 lengths
4	Gonebeyondrecall N F Glynn	A E Lynch 10st 7lbs	33 - 1 10 lengths
5	Swing Bill D Pipe	T J Murphy 10st 8lbs	25 - 1 Neck
6	Frankie Figg J Howard Johnson	B Hughes 10st 7lbs	10 - 1 Nose
7	Shakalakaboomboom N J Henderson	B J Geraghty 10st 5lbs	25 - 1 6 lengths
8	Stormin Exit J S Goldie	J Reveley 10st 4lbs	20 - 1 Head
9	Chasing Cars Mrs J Harrington	R M Power 10st 7lbs	25 - 1 1 3/4 length
10	Sagalyrique D McCain Jnr	P J Brennan 10st 4lbs	33 - 1 16 lengths
11	Forzy Origny N J Henderson	Felix de Giles 10st 11lbs	28 - 1 9 lengths
12	Ballyholland C A McBratney	Andrew J McNamara 11st 1lbs	16 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
13	Edgbriar P R Webber	D Elsworth 10st 11lbs	40 - 1 17 lengths
14	Isn't That Lucky Jonjo O'Neill	R McGrath 10st 0lbs	16 - 1 16 lengths
15	Fistral Beach P F Nicholls	Nick Scholfield 10st 9lbs	28 - 1 9 lengths
16	Consigliere D Pipe	J M Maguire 11st 2lbs	33 - 1 2 1/2 lengths