WENSLEYDALE trainer Ferdy Murphy grabbed his first winner of the National Festival at Aintree, with Aces Four justifying 5-2 favouritism in the John Smiths Mildmay Novices Chase.

Jockey Graham Lee grabbed the lead just before the final fence down the back straight and continued to pile on the pressure from that point on.

The Murphy and Lee double act - hoping Joes Edge wins tomorrow's big race - were jubilant with Aces High boasting eight lengths in hand of runner-up Faasel (6-1) at the line, while Dom D'Orgeval ran well at 16-1 to finish a further half-length away in third.