Albertas gives McCoy boost

TONY McCoy enjoyed perfect preparation for his 15th assault on the Grand National as Albertas Run won the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree yesterday.

The 14-times champion jockey is winless in the Merseyside spectacular and today he bids for his maiden success on board Jonjo O'Neill's Don't Push It.

And it was for O'Neill that he drove Albertas Run into the lead heading to the third-last to deny the smooth-travelling 4-1 joint-favourite Forpadydeplasterer by a little over three lengths.

The other joint-favourite, Kalahari King, came down at the second fence leaving heart-warming grey Monet's Garden to boss the field with his exuberant jumping. He only cracked when Albertas Run began to edge clear.

Forpadydeplasterer appeared ready to pounce as he travelled in his slipstream but Albertas Run prevailed.

In the day's other races, Wayward Prince landed the Grade One John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle, Burton Port recorded his fifth success from seven starts this season in the Mildmay Novices' Chase, while O'Neill and McCoy topped up their earlier success when Ringaroses won the John Smith's smithythehorse.com Handicap Hurdle.