Malcolm Jefferson's Cape Tribulation followed up his Cheltenham victory off top-weight in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at Aintree.
Winner of the Pertemps Final last month, the eight-year-old did not travel as well this time off an 8lb higher mark, but Denis O'Regan nursed him into contention and moved up alongside the bottom weight American Spin, who was up making the running with Buena Vista throughout.
Cape Tribulation (14-1) had to work much harder than at Cheltenham but prevailed by three-quarters of a length with six lengths back to Trustan Times and Ringaroses, placed in the race for the third year in a row.
Jefferson said: "Denis said he was never going, they went some gallop but he stays well. It's some performance, he's a good horse. He came into the race in some fettle, the lad who rides him at home said he felt better than Cheltenham.
"You begin to wonder if he's gone because he's normally so lazy at home and he'd been flying up the gallops.
"Denis gave him some ride today, I didn't bring my binoculars but I could just keep seeing him and I knew where he was at.
"He made up his ground in a nice way and once he gets there he is tough. I hope it's a good omen for Saturday (when he runs According To Pete in the Grand National)."
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