Flyer cruises to Melling triumph

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Moscow Flyer claimed his 19th win in 19 completed outings over fences with victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.

The 4-9 favourite took the lead with four fences left and Barry Geraghty saw him to an easy win over Le Roi Miguel, with Therealbandit third.

A field of just six was reduced to five at the third fence when Mister McGoldrick fell.

Kadarann slipped out of contention at the fifth and Moscow Flyer soon turned on the class to claim an easy win.

He took up the running with three hurdles to go and although Le Roi Miguel challenged, Jessica Harrington's horse eased clear for a 16-length victory.

Despite the comfortable success, Brian Kearney, Moscow Flyer's owner, admitted that it wasn't an easy race to watch.

"It is stomach-churning, but at the same time magnificent, and I don't know how you separate the two as they are going on at the same time.

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"He appears to be jumping better and better as he gets older, which is very encouraging for an old fellow like me!

"He is a kind of king in his own right. I go down and see him and he looks down at me and won't go near me, but I think he knows who his owner is."

Mrs Harrington added: "Barry said it is only now that he is becoming a nice ride. It has taken six years to get it right, but we are finally getting it right, and he was magnificent, better than he was at Cheltenham.

"We'll take one race at a time. We'll get over this one and hopefully we'll have Punchestown in a couple of weeks' time."