PAUL NICHOLLS had started to doubt the desire of Zarkandar but the application of blinkers and a step up in trip showed the six-year-old in a vastly different light as he thwarted The New One in what a top-quality John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle.

The season’s two-and-ahalf- mile decider usually draws an intriguing mixture of distance specialists against the Champion Hurdle horses chancing the extra yardage, and the decision to promote it from the Grand National undercard to day one showpiece was rewarded with a thriller.

The New One, expected to be one of next year’s stars after his novice victory at Cheltenham and supported into 11-4 favourite against the big boys, very nearly made off with the prize but Sam Twiston-Davies could never quite displace Ruby Walsh and Zarkandar from the front and were held by just half a length.

Zarkandar (11-2) wore blinkers on the Flat in France but Nicholls had not needed to resort to them in his three British campaigns, which had already yielded a Triumph, a Betfair Hurdle and most recently Cheltenham’s International Hurdle.

But the champion trainer’s hand was forced by what he considered a highly questionable performance from the gelding when he was a wellbeaten fourth in the Champion.

Often ridden close to the front, the reluctance of any of the other eight runners to take the lead saw Walsh bounce off himself, and he was never headed despite rivals swarming round him in the home straight.

With The New One emerging his most serious danger, Walsh gave the younger pairing no quarter and he had an equally determined horse underneath.

Nicholls said: ‘‘He wore blinkers before we had him as he was so colty and I thought we might put them on in the Champion Hurdle but while he kept winning I left them off. I thought he gave up a bit easily in the Champion as he went from a promising position coming down the hill to being off the bridle in a matter of strides.’’ Mouse Morris was elated after First Lieutenant provided him with a birthday winner in the Betfred Bowl on the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

It was a deserved success for both trainer and horse, as Morris had a series of nearmisses at Cheltenham and First Lieutenant had been banging his head against the best around all season.

Man-of-the-moment Bryan Cooper was standing in for Davy Russell, deemed not fit enough to ride in England by the British Horseracing Authority despite being in action in Ireland since puncturing a lung at Cheltenham.

Second to Cue Card in the Ryanair Chase, First Lieutenant (7-2) found the longer trip to his liking and wore down Menorah, with Silviniaco Conti third.

‘‘He really deserved one,’’ said Morris, 62. ‘‘He’s got a big heart and he jumped super for Bryan, but I thought we were struggling turning in.

‘‘He hasn’t run a bad race all season and was second in all the good handicaps and Grade Ones.

‘‘It was a toss-up between running him in the Ryanair or the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

We went for the Ryanair and bumped into a very good Cue Card on the day. That’s the way it goes.’’ Tartan Snow, a 100-1 chance, edged out Cool Friend in a thrilling finish to the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase. Cool Friend looked like landing the amateur riders’ Grand National when he led over the final fence, but he could not quite shake off the opposition.

Jamie Hamilton brought Stuart Coltherd’s 13-year-old with a late charge to snatch victory in the last few strides.

Coltherd said: ‘‘We’ve always believed in him and he’s given the syndicate so much fun. The owners always back him hoping that the dream will come true. I was up lambing at 2am so this makes it worthwhile.

‘‘Jamie was great on him, he’s got a fantastic record on him, he’s a great jockey and rode a winner on the Flat at Doncaster a week ago.’’ Asked if he had backed the winner, owner/breeder Rory Westwood, who has a 150-acre farm and 450 ewes, said: ‘‘I had a fiver each-way on the Tote (a pay-out of £843.50).’’