THE Crabbie’s Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree is the target of Out Now who impressed when justifying 5/4 favouritism on his British debut at Warwick last Thursday. A first track winner in three years for his Downpatrick-born owner/rider David Maxwell, the 11-year-old Muroto gelding put in an exhibition of jumping on his way to victory in the extended three-mile hunters’ chase, being eased down on the run-in to score by seven lengths.

Maxwell purchased Out Now through David Smyly Bloodstock at Doncaster in November. “I was recommended the horse by Richard Pugh,” said the London-based property investor. “He had won an open at Rathcannon the previous month on his return to pointing.”