Gina Andrews won today's Randox Foxhunters’ Chase (4.05pm) at Aintree on Latenightpass, but it was a real family affair
The winner, who beat Cat Tiger, Porlock Bay and Le Breuil, was trained by Andrews' husband Tom Ellis and bred and owned by her mother-in-law Pippa. The distances were 1¼l, 1¾l and 26l, and the winner, who finished second last year, was sent off at 7/2.
Andrews, whose father, Simon, won the race 33 years ago riding Newnham, said: "I had a dream ride and he jumped super. He just takes to it for whatever reason. He's such a nimble agile jumper. You have to get a good start and we did – they say you can't win the race at the start, but you can lose it.
"I was having a chat with Izzie Marshall [on Clondaw Westie] going to Becher's and said 'How are you doing?' and she 'Alright, I think'. Then she went at the Canal Turn and from there on we just had to keep going."
Ellis said: "I couldn't do this without Gina, and I'd like to think she couldn't do it without me. I'll be in Mum's good books now. It's a massive thing to do it as a family.
"This is absolute top of everything I've ever done, and by a mile. We did the right thing to miss Cheltenham and come straight here, and we had two other horses to go to Cheltenham which took the pressure off."
David Maxwell praised Cat Tiger, who was third last year and went one place better. "He did everything right, but win," said Maxwell, while Will Biddick said of Porlock Bay: "He missed the standing start and from there I was just niggling along. His jumping was impeccable and kept him in it. He galloped to the line and has run a helluva race."
Sam Waley-Cohen, an ambassador for amateur riders, announced after the race, his 40th ride over the Aintree fences, that he would be retiring from the saddle on Saturday after he has ridden Noble Yeats in the Grand National.