The combination of joint-trainer Jonjo and AJ O’Neill plus jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jr combined to land the two and a half mile William Hill Handicap Hurdle with bottom weight Wellington Arch (14-1).

The six-year-old held off the strong late challenge of Kopeck De Mee to score by a neck.

Jonjo O’Neill Sr said: “He did everything right and jumped well. It was a good ride and it all went according to plan, but it was tense at the end and I thought we were going to be caught until thank God somebody moved the post for us.

“We always had this race in mind, but we were the last one in and we thought we might have to wait until tomorrow and the two-mile race.

“I’d imagine that will be it for the season and then I’ve got chasing in mind for him next season. He’ll hopefully make up into a nice chaser, but he’s done his job today and we’ll enjoy that. Mike and Mary (Gaskell) who own him are fairly local in Cheshire, so there might be a few drinks tonight.”

Jonjo O’Neill Jr said: “If Kopec De Mee had got to me a bit earlier I think Wellington Arch would have gone on again, it’s just that he came so late, but we got the job done and I’m very happy. We hit the cross-bar at Cheltenham; Aintree has been lucky for us in the past but we haven’t had a winner at this festival for a long time - it’s actually my first winner at this meeting - and it’s really good to get Dad and AJ and the team at Jackdaws a winner here; they’ve worked really hard this year and it’s great to repay them.

“I’m really looking forward to riding Iroko tomorrow [in the Randox Grand National]. I Am Maximus is still the one we’ve all got to beat, but I think if something’s going to beat him, it’s probably going to be an unexposed horse and we’ve got that profile.”

Willie Mullins trainer of runner-up Kopeck De Mee said: "He ran as well as I thought he would. It was a really good run.”