CLAN DES IT FOR FERGIE

SIR ALEX FERGUSON felt he was ‘almost jumping the last fence’ himself when Clan Des Obeux made it back-to-back victories for the legendary Man United manager in the Betway Bowl Chase at Aintree.

“The heart always goes a bit jumping the last,” said Ferguson. “I felt like I was almost jumping the last fence.

“I had a great day here last year winning the three Grade Ones,” said Ferguson, right. “I don’t think it’s ever been done here – I never won three in a row at Anfield, that’s for sure!

“We’ve had a great time with him. This is part of my life, more than football now.”

After drawing a blank at the Cheltenham Festival, winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: “To get him back looking like that was a fantastic team effort so I’m thrilled.

“He will definitely go to Punchestown now as that was always the plan and we will leave the blinkers on.”

For Gordon Elliott it was another to hit the crossbar after he saddled Conflated to finish second.

Kemboy finished third with Protektorat, the 5-2 favourite, fourth.

Nicky Henderson’s disappointment from pulling Caribean Boy out of tomorrow’s Grand National after a hamstring injury was lessened after Epatante took the Betway Aintree Hurdle in the hands of Aidan Coleman.

Henderson, winning the prize for the fifth time, said: “She ran a super race at Cheltenham (second to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle) and JP (McManus owner) said at the beginning of the season our main aims would be the Fighting Fifth and then the Christmas Hurdle.”

As for a rematch with Honeysuckle, Henderson added: “She’s in at Punchestown anyway – I’m not saying if she will or she won’t.”