20-1 outsider Bill Baxter wins the Randox Topham Handicap Chase on day two at Aintree

Trainer Warren Greatrex enjoyed a welcome change with an emotional victory with a 20-1 shot by Bill Baxter in the Randox Topham Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences on day two of the meeting.

Greatrex has dealt with the trauma and failure of two of its employees who took their own lives as his stable struggled to reach the level of success it achieved a decade ago.

After Sam Twiston-Davies rode Bill Baxter to a long and three-quarter win over Fantastic Lady, Greatrex said, “When you’re on the crest of a wave and everything goes well and you train Grade One winners in England and Ireland and then hit you rock bottom, it’s hard.

“Then we lost the two guys and it really hurt and it still hurts me now.

‘We are a great team. I know I can do it and I’ve proven I can. I have some nice young horses and hopefully this will open the gates to better things.

The jockey was Sam Twiston-Davies, who will ride Our Power in the Grand National on Saturday

“I always question myself. Last night I had a runner in the bumper and I couldn’t believe it because I thought she would run really well and she disappointed.

“I know it’s a little different with bumpers, but I thought this horse had a good chance as long as the ground was soft. He never lets you down and he will move on to bigger and better things. Sam said he traveled very strong today.’

Twiston-Davies, who will be riding Our Power in Saturday’s Grand National, added: ‘It’s a great buzz. I am very happy for Warren and his team. I’m having a fantastic ride. The rain suited him well, and of course he will stay. He had many qualities that suited him well for the race, but the jockey didn’t have to mess it up!’

Pic D’Orhy, trained by Paul Nicholls, achieved first grade success at the Grade One level when he was successful in the Marsh Chase.

Nicholls said: ‘He’s been improving all season and has worked his way up from Newton Abbot at the start of the season to here where he’s put in a good Grade One performance.

Pic D’Orhy took a first class win in the Marsh Chase

“He’s just a different horse physically than he was a year ago and missing the Cheltenham Festival was such an advantage.

“He’s a better horse on a flat track and we’ve never been to Cheltenham with him. Many of the horses that used to run in Cheltenham don’t run very well here and you’ll always notice that whether it’s three or four weeks between the festivals. This race has been his goal since he won the Peterborough Chase.”

Lucinda Russell won the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle in 2021 as Ahoy Senpor pushed hard to run.

The same tactic worked for Apple Again as she held off Maximilian a length and three quarters to give jockey Stephen Mulqueen his first-class success.