Scudamore and Pipe lay down Aintree marker with feature race success

Tom Scudamore is looking forward to Saturday with renewed hope after a notable success on his first visit of the week to the north west.

Three days before Vieux Lion Rouge bids to repeatlast year's win in the Becher Chase at Aintree, stablemate Eamon An Cnoic advertised the form of David Pipe's yard by landing the feature novice chase 15 miles along the East Lancs Road.

His mount was the 18-1 outsider of six, having fallen on his chasing debut, but jumped soundly and held off Ballydine by a neck.