Grand National Day at Aintree got underway with the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle over an extended three miles which saw 28-1 chance Deep Cave get up close home to score by a length from Irish raider Timmy Tuesday.

Winning trainer Christian Williams, who finished second as a jockey in the Grand National on Royal Auclair and saddled Kitty’s Light to finish fifth last year, said: “That was brilliant. It’s very special to have winners at these meetings, but we didn’t have anything for Cheltenham and we’ve come here with just the one runner, so for him to go and win is great.

“The owner (Caolan Woods) has been patient all year. He had a break to freshen him up and then we targeted this meeting. It’s probably taken us a long time to figure him out, but we thought he’d be better on nice ground and he’s going to be very special over fences next year. He won a novice chase in France, so he’s not a novice, but he’ll hopefully be a Saturday horse.”

Asked if he always thought he was going to get there, winning jockey Jack Tudor said: “I did, actually, yes. I thought jumping two out… we’ve ridden him a bit more on the pace before and found when he gets there, he doesn’t do too much. Whereas I was happy today that I had something to aim at all the way from two out. I didn’t think we went a mad gallop early doors, but got going down the back and got racing up in front turning in – it’s worked out nicely.”

He added: “I don’t think he is a proper soft ground horse, he’s a good-moving horse and good ground is… the ground they’ve got here today for us, you wouldn’t get it anywhere else, it’s perfect.”

On what it means to win at Aintree, Tudor said: “It’s what it’s about. It’s where you want to be riding, and where you want to be riding winners. Delighted.

“Aintree do a great job with the ground - the weather hasn’t made it easy for clerks of the course recently, but it’s lovely ground, on the easy side of good with great grass cover and very level. It’s great to be riding here on this day.”