Top Wood battled back gamely to beat Burning Ambition in the Randox Health Foxhunters' Chase over the
Grand National fences, to give rider Tabitha Worsley a victory to remember at
Aintree.
Derek O'Connor appeared to have done everything right on Burning Ambition, who skipped the Cheltenham Festival in favour of this race over a shorter trip.
Top Wood, who took over at the third-last from Road To Rome, appeared a sitting duck at the elbow as Burning Ambition swept by, with his rider having sat motionless throughout.
However, Worsley managed to get another effort out of Kelly Morgan's 12-year-old and the 14-1 chance was pulling clear at the line to win by two lengths, having finished second and third at Cheltenham for the past two years.
It was a real fairytale success for Worsley, as the 24-year-old explained.
She said: "He's such a tough horse. When the other horse came past us I thought we might get beat, but he stuck his neck out and galloped all the way to the line. I knew he wouldn't get beaten then. He's so game.
"The other horse went past us quickly, but my horse just needed a couple of strides to get going again.
"I broke my back the November before last in a fall at Ludlow and then I should have ridden here last year, but I broke my collarbone the week before. Last year wasn't my year, but this certainly is."
Morgan said: "He's just so brave. He's been branded a monkey, but I've never believed it. He's incredibly tough. When he got headed, he stuck his head out.
"When he jumped the first few and started to get into a bit of a rhythm, I knew he'd be all right.
"Instructions were to get a good start, let him zip away and see if he was enjoying it."