It turned out to be a dream Aintree for the Waley-Cohen family, from Edge Hill, near Banbury as they landed a famous double over the big fences.

Amateur jockey Sam piloted Katarino, trained and owned by his father Robert, to a second successive victory in the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase.

And then just 24 hours later, Sam struck again when Liberthine, owned by Robert and trained by Nicky Henderson at Lambourn, raced to success in the John Smith's And Spar Topham Chase.

Waley-Cohen's mount took over from long-time leader Hakim coming to the last and the seven-year-old mare stayed on well to win by one and a half lengths, with Pak Jack was a further five lengths back in third.

After his second success, Sam said: "She's a beautiful mare and I love riding these fences. She was always going so comfortably. She's just brave and so bold."

Ironically, Sam wouldn't have been qualified to ride Liberthine had she made the cut for the John Smith's Grand National as he hadn't ridden 15 winners.

But he showed when completing back-to-back victories in the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase on Katarino how adept he is over the big fences.

The 11-year-old, making his seasonal debut, went to the front after the fifth-last fence where Abbeytown and Drombeag came down, and then ran on strongly to come home seven lengths clear of Christy Beamish.

"He's awesome," smiled Sam. "This horse has had all our hopes and dreams on him and he's absolutely class."

Waley-Cohen senior added: "I'm absolutely thrilled what could be more wonderful? There was huge anxiety he wouldn't quite get home without a run beforehand, but it worked."

Faringdon-based jockey Timmy Murphy was left wondering what might have been after Celestial Gold landed the Betfair Bowl just three weeks after he was unseated from Martin Pipe's charge in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The 31-year-old Irishman produced the eight-year-old with a beautifully-timed ride to capitalise on a mistake by Take The Stand at the final fence, and score by seven lengths.