TO unanimous approval, the ever-engaging Dickie Johnson is progressing serenely towards his third Champion Jockey title. He will remember Native River first and foremost, maybe followed by the poignant victory of Kayley Woollacott’s Lalor at this meeting. Winning the other handicap chase on Grand National day was more than acceptable, as well.

Johnson has his principal employers all worked out – Philip Hobbs, followed by Henry Daly and Richard Phillips, with long journeys north for Gordon Elliott – but Thomas Patrick, winner of the Betway Handicap over the extended three miles, is trained by Tom Lacey on the Herefordshire borders.

Backed from 7/2 to 3/1 favourite, he made all the running and a tendency to jump right made little or no difference. Firmly driven from two out, he beat On Tour by four lengths with Dublin trainer Karl Thornton’s Paper Lantern back in third.

“He’s a super jumper and gets into a nice rhythm. He puts everyone to the sword behind him and the ground played to his strengths,” Lacey remarked.

SHOT ON TARGET

It has not been the best of campaigns for David Pipe, but there are still some big races to come and this three-mile handicap hurdle was worth over £42,000 to Mr Big Shot’s owner Professor Caroline Tisdall, who has provided Pipe with plenty of expensive material in recent years.

Mr Big Shot was made 7/1 favourite in a 20-runner field. Driven by Tom Scudamore to lead between the last two flights, he was headed by Now McGinty but rallied in heart-warming style to get back up again by three-parts of a length. He lost his unbeaten record in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham but that was after an 11-month break.

“He’s been fragile to train but we always knew he had an engine. I imagine he’ll go chasing next year,” Pipe said.

HAVANA TAKES ADVANTAGE

Trainer Tony Carroll is more likely to win sprint handicaps at Brighton than two-mile hurdle races at Aintree but he made his name as a jumps jockey, landing the odd gamble for David Wintle and friends in the Bristol area many years ago.

He claimed the last race of the festival with 12/1 chance Havana Beat in the hands of young James Nixon when Scheu Time and Katie Walsh came down at the last, seriously impeding runner-up Dear Sire. Scheu Time, off the mark at Thurles last month, was kept wide and looked set to go close when making his one comprehensive mistake.