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If Burrows Saint goes half as well as Livelovelaugh in the Randox Topham Chase over the big fences in the Grand National then Patrick Mullins should be in for a dream ride.
Mullins made nearly every yard of the running on the Rich Ricci-owned chaser on Friday and Livelovelaugh jumped from fence to fence to break his duck over the larger obstacles.
Four out he was a good 10 lengths clear and when the pack began to close on him it was only because Ireland’s most successful amateur rider was giving the 11-year-old a breather.
In the end the 15/2 shot, who failed to get the trip when he ran in the 2019 Grand National, won by four-and-a-half lengths, beating Pink Eyed Pedro who went off at 33/1.
"It was the perfect preparation for tomorrow," said Mullins. "It’s probably the biggest thrill I’ve ever had on a horse. If you could bottle it…"
Although there were several false starts before the race, the National course was in benign mood and it took until Foinavon’s fence, the 11th in the Topham, before there was a faller.
Mark Walsh, another jockey with a terrific chance in the National when he rides Any Second Now, also scored a comfortable win over Nuts Well on Fakir D’Oudairies in the Marsh Chase. Joseph O’Brien’s chaser had been second in four Grade Ones since his last victory at that level.
"He deserved his day in the sun - he’s been running great all season, so I’m delighted he got his head in front," said Walsh. "He had a hard race in the Ryanair at Cheltenham and Joseph has done well to freshen him up, and he’s done it well today."
It was a second win on the card for JP McManus after the nothing if not lucky Chantry House, trained by Nicky Henderson, won the Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase to add to his win in the Marsh at Cheltenham.
In Gloucestershire the seven-year-old may have benefited from the fall of Envoi Allen early on and on Friday he looked destined for second behind Espoir De Romay until the leader fell at the second last.
Friday's racing went ahead as planned following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, as will Saturday's card.
There was a two-minute silence before Friday's first race at 1.45pm, while jockeys have been invited to wear black armbands and the Union flag above the grandstand is flying at half-mast. Similar tributes are planned on National day.
"We received the news of The Duke of Edinburgh’s death with great sadness," the Jockey Club's senior steward Sandy Dudgeon said.
"On behalf of The Jockey Club, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and all members of the Royal Family."
The Duke of Edinburgh, a regular at Royal Ascot but a rare visitor to other meetings, was an honorary member of The Jockey Club.
In a statement, the Jockey Club confirmed Saturday's card will go ahead, adding: "Following the sad news of the death of The Duke of Edinburgh a two-minute silence will be held on course ahead of the 173rd Randox Grand National, jockeys will be invited to wear black armbands and flags will be flown at half-mast at the racecourse."
When the Queen Mother - who came so close to winning the race with Devon Loch in 1956 - died in 2002 it was a week before the Grand National but the race was held, with Bindaree winning. The Queen Mother was buried on the Tuesday following the race.