Big Occasion gave trainer David Pipe his third successive Betfred Midlands Grand National victory by landing Uttoxeter's showpiece race under Mikey Ennis.
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Pipe missed out on a Cheltenham Festival winner this week but picked up the valuable prize at the Staffordshire track once again as the 6/1 chance followed up the wins of Minella Four Star and Master Overseer with a fine performance.
Chac Du Cadran, the well-backed 3/1 favourite, set a relentless gallop for much of the race alongside top-weight Carruthers.
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Carruthers faded down the back straight on the final circuit after a couple of jumping errors and several of Chac Du Cadran's rivals were preparing to launch their attacks as they turned for home.
Big Occasion had travelled well throughout under amateur rider Ennis and the six-year-old hit the front three from home.
He then safely negotiated the final two fences to triumph by six lengths from Rebeccas Choice (20/1), with One In A Milan (8/1) 10 lengths back in third.
Last year's winner Master Overseer was prominent for the first two circuits but cried enough on the final circuit and was eventually pulled up by Tom Scudamore.
Major Malarkey, who finished second in 2012, only managed to jump one fence before being pulled up to end the hopes of a treble for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies.
Pipe said: "He'd been running on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien (as a younger horse) and he hadn't been running that well in the first half of the season.
"We changed the way we were training him. I wasn't sure he'd get three miles, let alone four. He was given a great ride by Mikey Ennis and it's a great win."
For 30-year-old rider Ennis this was a "biggest career success by far".
He said: "He was a maiden over fences but was always travelling with ease and he jumped well on the whole. I didn't want to be in front too soon but the blinkers worked.
"I'm from a place close to Musselburgh. It's my second season with David. I rode at Cheltenham for him last year and won a nice race on Swing Bill.
"I've had 11 winners under Rules plus 25 point winners. Coming here I was thinking the quicker I turn pro the better. That was a nice pot to win without getting a percentage."
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