Edgardo Sol much the best

Edgardo Sol: Easy winner

Edgardo Sol (9-2 favourite) was an easy winner of the matalan.co.uk Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree.

Echo Bob set a frantic pace up front and that played into the hands of Paul Nicholls' charge, who was outpaced in the County Hurdle before running on well for second.

He was always travelling well here in the hands of Ruby Walsh and cruised home by 14 lengths in the end from Astracad (8-1).

Echo Bob (25-1) did well to hang on for third after making much of the running.

Nicholls said: "That was impressive. He ran really well in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham where a messy jump at the last probably cost him.

"I had him in four races here and couldn't decide what to run him in but I thought this probably looked the easiest of them all.

"It wasn't really the plan to bring him back over fences, I didn't know where to run him, and if he's all right he'll run next weekend in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

"It's amazing how he got beat off 128 at Newton Abbot in the autumn.

"He's been a great buy by Anthony Bromley because he didn't cost much and his owners have had a lot of fun.

"Life could be difficult for him next year."

Walsh, who picked up a whip ban when winning on Edgardo Sol at Aintree in October, added: "The last day is dead and buried, the rules have changed.

"He's a great horse, he's improved with every run and he travelled superbly. For a novice his jumping was exceptional."

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