BEST’S VICTORY IS JUST GRAND

STARTS WITH TIP-TOP RACING Mill win fulfils James’ dream

JUMPING FOR JOY: Walk In The Mill heads to victory JAMES BEST saw his schoolboy dream of winning over the Grand National fences come true when Walk In The Mill took the Becher Chase at Aintree.

The freelance jockey punched the air after steering the eightyear-old to a brave success from the fast-finishing Vieux Lion Rouge in atrocious conditions.

It was also a biggest career victory for trainer Robert Walford, who said his horse would be aimed at April’s Randox Health Grand National.

Best said: “What a thrill. Midway through I was thinking he could run a big race and when we turned into the straight I knew he would keep galloping.

“I threw him at the last fence and he landed running. It was my dream to ride these fences. To have a great spin round is great but to win is something else.”

Best has only ridden once in the Grand National itself and fell at the first on Gas Line Boy in 2015.

He added: “He is not the fastest in the world but I can’t wait for April.

“The handicapper should put us up enough pounds to sneak in at the bottom of the weights. The celebration was a bit OTT but days like this mean so much.”

Meanwhile, the 2017 Grand National winner One For Arthur’s comeback from injury was short-lived after he unseated Tom Scudamore at the third fence in the Many Clouds Chase.

Trainer Lucinda Russell said she was “very relieved” that he appeared unscathed.

The race was won for the second year running by Definitly Red, who will now go straight for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.