In his new role as retainer to Ann and Alan Potts, Robbie Power hit cloud nine on day two of the Grand National meeting when partnering Fox Norton to a comprehensive win the JLT Melling Chase.

Only narrowly denied in the Champion Chase last month, the seven-year-old adopted his customary position in midfield early on.

As the nine runners carted down to the fourth last Gigginstown’s Sub Lieutenant took a two length advantage and led into the straight.

Fox Norton and Power closed in after the third last and took it up just before two out.

He forged on between the last two flights and after winging the last came clear to win the two mile and half Grade 1 contest by six lengths.

“It’s fantastic, it’s a pleasure to be riding horses like this,” reflected Power.

“He ran a cracker in the Champion Chase and was unlucky. When I schooled him at Colin’s last week I had no doubt two and a half miles would play to his strengths and he’s travelled everywhere, jumped from fence to fence.”

A son of Lando, Fox Norton notches his first victory at Grade 1 level. Special Tiara only denied him by a head of claiming that elusive first success at the highest level in the Champion Chase last month.

Tizzard said: “”It’s lovely when this happens, especially after what it was like at Cheltenham, that was hard work.

“This boy could have won the Champion Chase, there wasn’t much in it and he’s got better with the trip, I think.

“It took all of two miles last year for him to get into third in the Arkle. He’s not very fast at home when you think he would be but I think he’ll make up into a King George horse.”

He’s not very fast at home when you think he would be

Earlier in the afternoon, the Potts-owned Pingshou caused a bit of an upset in the Grade 1 Crabbie’s Top Novices’ Hurdle.

After racing handily in behind the leaders under Power, the seven-year-old shot clear between the last two flights and kept up the gallop to score by just under five lengths.

Nicky Henderson’s fine run of form continued in the Grade 1 Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase, as Might Bite got the better of his stable mate Whisper once more.

Under Nico De Boinville, the odds on favourite was tracked by Whisper throughout but the latter could never quite get by on the running with a deficit of two lengths at the winning post.