Sire Du Berlais completed a Grade 1 Grand National day double for Gordon Elliott when winning the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
The admirable JP McManus-owned gelding completed the Cheltenham-Aintree double for Gordon Elliott and Mark Walsh after taking the equivalent contest at the Festival in March.
He was sent off at 8-1 despite his prior victory and looked like he was not in the mood at all in the first half of the race.
READ MORE: Grand National full race card and tips - list of runners at Aintree on Saturday
After cantering along at the rear of the field, he edged into the event gradually and came into his own when the race became a stamina test in the final furlong – defeating the strong-travelling Marie’s Rock by three and a quarter lengths, with Flooring Porter (3-1 favourite) another six and a half lengths back in third.
The victory came after Irish Point landed the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle under Davy Russell, who confirmed he would retire following Saturday's action.
The grey ran in mid-division and crept into a more prominent position as the field turned for home.
Behind the leaders over the penultimate hurdle, the five-year-old took up the lead over the last and pulled clear up the home straight to win comfortably from Kateira, who was three and a half lengths in arrears.
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