Fakir D'Oudairues (10-11 favourite) grabbed a second successive victory in the Marsh Chase (Registered As The Melling Chase) on the second day of the 2022 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
Joseph O'Brien's seven-year-old became the sixth dual winner of the Grade One feature of Ladies Day, and the first since Voy Por Ustedes in 2006-2007, as he powered to victory under Mark Walsh.
Having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival and a clash with dual Ryanair Chase hero, the JP McManus-owned gelding made it pay at Aintree.
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Sent off a heavily-backed 10-11 favourite, Walsh had Fakir D'Oudairies just off the lead set by Editeur Du Gite, a handicap winner over the Mildmay fences at Aintree last season, who set a searching gallop in the two-and-a-half mile contest. Paint The Dream took but the favourite and Hitman quickly came through on the turn for home.
Hitman (11-1) and Lorcan Williams got upsides Fakir D'Oudairies but a superb jump over the second last by the O'Brien's star saw him take a clear lead. He quickened impressively and went clear for a five-and-a-half-length win over Hitman with Sceau Royal (18-1) a further three lengths back in third.
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O'Brien said: "I'm delighted with that. Mark gave him a great ride and he's been a great servant to us that horse over a number of years. Hopefully he'll be around another few years yet.
"I have to see the race again, but it's as good a performance as he's put up I'd say.
"I think there's no doubt it was a deeper race this year and I was surprised he was as short a price as he was, to be honest.
"We'll see about Punchestown. He doesn't owe us anything this year, so we'll take him home and discuss it with JP (McManus) and Frank (Berry). I wouldn't be much either way at the moment."
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He added: "It's great to come here and have a winner. It's a special week and we're lucky to have good support and nice horses."
For owner McManus it was a third Grade One win of the week following Epatante on Thursday and Jonbon earlier in the day.
McManus will bid for a third Grand National win on Saturday and has six entries, including last year's winner Minella Times, who will again be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
And McManus said of the history-making rider: "We are still celebrating (Minella Times win).
"Just to see her (Rachael Blackmore) here and to go and go it. To see her here with Minella in Liverpool. We weren't able to be be here last year, so it will be special. God love her. She is wonderful.
"It has been a good meeting (so far). We will celebrate what we have."
Paul Nicholls said of Hitman and Saint Calvados (fifth): "We've always held him (Hitman) in high regard and thought of him as a Frodon or a Clan (Des Obeaux). He's a work in progress. That was a career-best run, and I think there will be more to come.
"He hasn't raced much this season and he could run again, at either Punchestown or Sandown.
"Saint Calvados looks like he wants three miles. He's the sort that could go really well at Kempton in the King George. I will send him to the Oaksey Chase at Sandown now."
