Clan Des Obeaux clung on grimly to claim a second victory in the Betway Bowl Chase at Aintree on Thursday and give Paul Nicholls an important winner.

Second in the race to Kemboy in 2019 and successful 12 months ago, the 10-year-old has also won the King George at Kempton twice.

He was on something of a retrieval mission here, however, as having finished second in the King George at Christmas he was disappointing in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

But in another example of why Nicholls has been a multiple champion he reached for first-time blinkers and Clan Des Obeaux looked back to his best.

With Nicky Henderson, and even Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton holding out hope of catching Nicholls in the race to be champion trainer, the £140,000 added to his tally here could make all the difference.

With Kemboy’s jumping not holding up to the test on this occasion he was a spent force as Harry Cobden came alongside at the third-last.

Davy Russell was still trying to creep into contention on Conflated, but Clan Des Obeaux (13/2) went six lengths clear – only to get very tired in the final 50 yards.

Conflated closed to within a length, but the line came just too soon for him. Protektorat, third in the Gold Cup, travelled well for a long way but his Cheltenham exertions took their toll and he faded tamely in the straight.

Clan Des Obeaux's part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I had a great day here last year winning the three Grade 1s. I don’t think it’s ever been done here – I never won three in a row at Anfield, that’s for sure!

“We were confident today Clan would run well, but it was a good field and we thought Protektorat was probably the right favourite.

“It’s great for Paul to produce Clan at that level and fitness. I think the blinkers were a help and that’s what good trainers do – they try things.

“As soon as he took over, I thought he was a certainty – but the heart always goes a bit jumping the last!”

This was a fourth Grade 1 success for Clan Des Obeaux to go with his previous Bowl, two King George VI Chases and the Punchestown Gold Cup.