Dessie Hughes left Aintree with two leading contenders for the 2010 John Smith's Grand National after Vic Venturi proved himself over the famous fences in the totesport.com Becher Chase.

The Irishman was taking the race for the second year in succession after Black Apalachi led the way home 12 months ago and his Becher-winning pair are set to return to Liverpool next April.

The duo are 20-1 alongside Tricky Trickster with Coral for the National while totesport were most taken with Vic Venturi and make him their outright favourite at 16-1.

Ladbrokes and William Hill quote the nine-year-old at 25-1.

Vic Venturi asserted after jumping the final fence and the 7-1 chance pulled five lengths clear of Keenan's Future on the run-in, with veteran Royal Rosa staying on for third.

Hughes said: "I am very pleased with that as I was a little afraid of the weight, but he stays and Paddy was very good on him.

"He may have a run over hurdles after Christmas to keep him ticking over and he'll then go for the Bobbyjo Chase once the National weights have come out.

"We'll have to come back for the National and Black Apalachi will also be back."

Jamie Moore added a second win over the famous Grand National fences to his career tally as Dev put in an exhibition round in the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.

The 24-year-old has only been back in the plate a fortnight after breaking his ankle in August and followed up Dunbrody Millar's 2007 Topham success aboard Mick Quinlan's bold-jumping nine-year-old.

Quinlan said of the 14-1 winner: "That was fantastic. He was going two and a half miles on ground he didn't like but we thought we would take a shot and his jumping was everything.

"Now we know he acts around the course we will have to think about bringing him back for the Topham."

Bible Lord unshipped Timmy Murphy at the fifth fence and the jockey was knocked unconscious for a short time, after which he was taken to Fazakerley Hospital for checks on his shoulder, although he was later cleared to return home.

Murphy missed a winning opportunity as William Kennedy replaced him aboard I'moncloudnine (9-2) and provided former rider Neil Mulholland with his first winner at the track as a trainer in the Plastic Design Handicap Chase.

Aintree Bumper winner and 13-8 favourite Sitting Tennant rose to the occasion at the scene of his finest hour to break his duck over timber in the Weatherbys Bank Maiden Hurdle.

The winner was dismounted on crossing the line, and jockey Denis O'Regan said: "He has suffered an overreach but should be fine in a couple of days.

"He had experience so I used that to our advantage and he jumped and travelled well."

Keith Mercer excelled aboard John Forbes as the 20-1 shot regained the lead to foil the challenge of Sam Lord in the Best Odds Guaranteed At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle.

Peter Bowen's Serabad landed the corresponding John Forbes' race 12 months ago and the Haverfordwest trainer didn't leave Merseyside empty handed this time as Natural Action (5-1) showed just that in the Christmas Party At Aintree Novices' Handicap Hurdle.