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Top conditional rider Sean Bowen landed the 888sport.com Handicap Chase at Haydock on Virak to qualify to ride in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree next weekend.
He got the 10th success over fences needed to enable him to partner Mon Parrain for the Paul Nicholls stable when steering the top-weight (5-2 favourite) home by six lengths from Carrigdhoun in the three-mile contest.
Algernon Pazham made a bold bid to lead all the way but made a bad blunder at the second-last, catapulting Ryan Hatch skywards, but the jockey kept the partnership intact and amazingly earned third spot, just seven and a half lengths behind the winner.
Bowen, who is going head to head with Nico de Boinville in the race for the conditional jockeys' championship, expressed his relief at riding that all-important winner as he was running out of time.
When asked how he felt after gaining the win needed to qualify to ride in the National, Bowen said: "That's what's given me the most buzz, more than the wins today. Thanks to Paul for giving me the chances to ride these horses and it's great to get my 10 winners over fences.
"It will be great to ride in the National, that was a target, but the main target is to go for the conditional jockeys' title, though Nick will be hard to beat.
"I've been waiting for that for a while, but I'm glad I've got it and hopefully Mon Parrain will be a good spin in the National. I was very frustrated. Monday was the last day I could do it as Tuesday and Wednesday there are no jump meetings. This was the main day I could do it.
"Mon Parrain's got form over the National fences. He's jumped there fine. I schooled him yesterday and he was in fine form. I've not had a ride over those fences yet."
Bowen earlier showed why he is one of the leading young riders around when getting Southfield Vic home in the Connolly's Red Mills 'Precision Nutrition' Series Handicap Hurdle Final.
The 5lb claimer had a difficult time on Nicholls' charge (5-1 favourite), who was not happy with the soft ground, yet managed to conjure victory.
Southfield Vic collared Raktiman on the run-in to triumph by three-quarters of a length, with Make A Fortune eight lengths away third and Top Cat Henry fourth.
Nicholls' assistant Tom Jonason said: "He was never really jumping or travelling on the ground. It was a bit of a punt coming here on soft ground and two and a half miles was not ideal. He confirmed there he needs three miles.
"I've spoken to Paul and he says that will be it for the season and he will go novice chasing next season. He's a tough little horse to do it like that. He got grounded out of it turning in, but the story was Sean gave him a great ride. He is serious value for his claim."
