RACING

AS A boy, James Best dreamed of riding over Aintree’s fearsome fences.

In 2015, he thought he was fulfilling his childhood wish but failed to get over a single fence when Gas Line Boy came down at the first in the Grand National.

But yesterday all his dreams were answered when Walk In The Mill won the Becher Chase at Aintree.

The freelance jockey, 28, punched the air after steering the eight-year-old to a brave success from the fast-finishing Vieux Lion Rouge in atrocious conditions.

It was only Best’s fourth victory of the season but by far his biggest while it was also a career best for trainer Robert Walford, who said his horse would be aimed at April’s

Grand National.

Best said: “It was my dream growing up to ride over these fences. To have a great spin round is great but to win is something else.”

Best will hoping for better luck than his 2015 experience in the National next April.

He added: “Walk In The Mill is not the fastest horse 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 I wear my heart on my sleeve and 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, won by Definitly Red.

Trainer Lucinda Russell said she was “very relieved” that her horse appeared unscathed and was just “a bit fresh”.

At Sandown Altior made in 10 wins out of 10 over fences with a gritty success from Un De Sceaux in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase.