STEVE DENNIS

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Big Fella story points to Aintree winner's circle

What did we see at Newbury on Saturday? We saw a fine ride from Tony McCoy to get serial after-you-Claude merchant Wheels Up home in front in the handicap chase (anyone who says he's not the right jock for Denman is barking up the wrong tree in a big way).

We saw a white horse - I've never seen a white horse before, and The White Admiral is gorgeous. He has pink eyes and a pink muzzle and he's snowy whiteapart from a smoky grey swirl in his tail. He's not bad either, finishing third behind a decent-looking winner; we might be seeing more of him in decent races next season.

And I think we saw the Grand National winner. Big Fella Thankslooked great when storming home over 2m4f - the shortest trip at which he's ever been successful - and as a National trial it was wholly satisfactory. Normally such a demonstration of prowess over that kind of trip would be a negative rather than a positive - the days when the National favoured 2m4f horses were very few and a long time ago, and it's a stayer's race now.

But BFT is a stayer, and he was sixth in the National last year while still a novice. It was only a mistake at the fourth-last that finally knocked the stuffing out of him, and he still kept on gamely when his chance had gone. He's had a lighter campaign this year, with just three runs under his belt, and the handicapper has been more than fair to him by dropping him 3lb from last year's Aintree mark.

All that is good stuff, for sure, but there's even an emotional story connected with the horse, in the style of so many National winners down the years. If he wins, he'll be Paul Nicholls' first National winner, which is something, but he'll also be a real handkerchief job.

Big Fella Thanks is named after the other Big Fella Thanks, a coursing greyhound great and the animal closest to the heart of Harry 'The Dog' Findlay. Sadly, thecanine BFT had to be put down last month at the age of 13, so what better tribute could there be than the equine BFT carrying off racing's most popular prize?

After all, that's just the icing on the cake. BFT jumps well enough, stays well enough, is classy enough and has been done a big Phil Smith-sized favour at the weights. Barry Geraghty or Ruby Walsh, take your pick, and his chance is obvious whatever the story - but there's no getting away from the story.

Sometimes it pays not to be too clever (I've always been good at that) and to accept what's staring you in the face. Can you imagine Clare Balding interviewing a tearful, victorious Findlay in the aftermath of the race? You can, can't you.

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