Nick rockets to near-National favouritism following Bobbyjo victory

is as short as 8-1 second-favourite for the Randox following victory in the Follow @ToteRacing On Twitter Bobbyjo Chase at .

The absence of last year’s Grand National hero I Am Maximus due to an infection removed a layer of interest from the Grade Three contest and Paul Townend switched to fellow inmate Nick Rockett following the withdrawal of his original mount.

Sent off the 5-6 favourite, Townend was happy to sit close to as he set out to make all, and the pair were still disputing it with three fences to jump.

They met the last obstacle almost level but Nick Rockett had too much in reserve for the game Intense Raffles, who was conceding 3lb, edging a three-quarter-length victory.

Betfair chopped Nick Rockett’s Aintree odds to 8-1, leaving him behind only Inothewayurthinkin in the market for the Aintree spectacular on April 5.