WITH the Crabbie’s Grand National feast rapidly approaching, the ideal aperitif for another huge Liverpool crowd was always going to be another winner for A.P. McCoy.

The great man duly obliged, going well clear on Don Cossack in the Grade 1 Betfred Melling Chase and giving Gordon Elliott his third winner at the meeting.

There were early casualties, Balder Succes and Sire De Grugy as Cue Card, back from injury, bowled along in front with Don Cossack, never far away, keeping him in his sights.

Cue Card has been a grand servant but taking him on early is invariably the right move and McCoy went on three from home on the 3/1 joint-favourite, soon establishing a clear advantage which became 26 lengths at the line. Jonjo O’Neill’s Johns Spirit finished a creditable third and the champion was quick to thank all those who had helped him get on Don Cossack, J P McManus’s son Kieran having had a word with those at the Gigginstown House Stud.

The form was rock solid, the winner having finished a slightly unlucky third in a high-quality Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

“I owe it all to Kieran, who spoke to Michael O’Leary,” McCoy smiled. “I think I’ve won five Ryanair Chases and got loads of money off Michael so at least I’ve made him some now!”