A review of the racing from Aintree on Old Roan Chase day

News of the rest of the action from Aintree, where Benbens returned to winning ways for the first time in 18 months.

Benbens (5/1) clinched his first victory since March of last year with a determined effort in the Simon And Louise's Silver Anniversary Veterans' Handicap Chase.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 10-year-old jumped the demanding obstacles with aplomb in the hands of Ryan Hatch and knuckled down well after the final fence to pass the post five lengths clear of Gordon Elliott's Russian Regent, with another Irish raider, Maggio, back in third.

Twiston-Davies said: "He jumped very well. He can make the odd mistake in his races, but he didn't this time.

"He might be back here for the National one day. That would look an obvious target and these old-age pensioner races are great.

"He's run some good races without winning, so it's nice to get a good pot."

Perform came out on top after three promising individuals fought out the finish to the Crabbie's Grand National 2016 On Sale Maiden Hurdle at Aintree.

The Philip Hobbs-trained 100-30 chance had shown plenty of promise on his jumping bow at Uttoxeter in the spring and Richard Johnson rode a patient race.

Echo Springs bowled along merrily at the head of affairs, but was a spent force early in the home straight and Perform, Knockgraffon and American moved through to battle it out.

There was little to choose between the trio jumping the final flight, but Perform found most for pressure to see of Knockgraffon by two and three-quarters lengths.

Point-to-point graduate American was three lengths further back in third.

Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, said: "He's a big horse and was still a bit green there. He didn't even have to jump them really - he just lifted a leg and he was over.

"He's a chaser in the making."

The judge was unable to split Optimistic Bias and Sykes after a pulsating climax to the Liverpool Horse Show January 2016 Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

The Hobbs-trained Sykes (5/2) travelled with panache throughout in the hands of Ciaran Gethings and looked like winning decisively after cruising towards the front end early in the straight.

Jonjo O'Neill's 15/8 favourite Optimistic Bias would not go down without a fight under Patrick Cowley, though, and rallied tenaciously on the run-in to ensure the pair went by the line as one.

Sarah Hobbs said: "Both horses were really tough and I'm delighted to share it with Jonjo. Ciaran thought he was beaten, so we'll take the dead-heat."

O'Neill said: "That was close! I said coming down from the stand I'd take a dead heat. It was a good race and the two of them jumped well and stayed well. It was a good, even race.

"He's a bad-tempered horse, but he's genuine."

Hunters Hoof made a successful return from an eight-month absence to complete a hat-trick in the Molson Coors Handicap Hurdle.

The winner of a maiden hurdle at this fixture last season, Nicky Henderson's six-year-old was not seen again until following up at Doncaster in February.

An 11/2 chance for his handicap debut under Gold Cup-winning jockey Nico de Boinville, Hunters Hoof ran down the pacesetting 6/4 favourite Work In Progress after the final flight to take the prize by a length.

Henderson's assistant Toby Lawes said: "We're very pleased with that. He won a couple of races last season, but wasn't beating amazing horses.

"We like him at home, though, and thought 130 was a workable mark and he proved that.

"I think two and a half miles his trip, for the time being, but he will probably get further in time.

"He likes good ground and ran a very gutsy, solid race."

Brothers Dan and Harry Skelton combined to land the Hampden Agencies Ltd. Novices' Handicap Hurdle as 7/4 favourite Abricot De L'Oasis made a winning debut for the yard.

Dan Skelton said: "I think we'll spend this year over hurdles now and the plan is to go for a novice handicap at the Hennessy meeting (at Newbury)."

La Bague Au Roi (2/1 favourite) looked an animal of some potential when she capably defied a penalty to easily win the British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race for trainer Warren Greatrex and jockey Harry Bannister.