The Galloping Bear wins the William Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock Park

The Galloping Bear (9-2 favourite) ground down veteran and top weight Bristol De Mai to land a fine victory in the William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock Park.

It has been a memorable week for trainer Ben Clarke and jockey Ben Jones and was capped by a gruelling seven-length victory in testing conditions in the Grade Three feature on Merseyside.

Somerset-based Clarke, in his first season with a full licence, and Jones landed a double at Sandown on Thursday with Dr Kananga and Lettie Lutz.

And it got even better as a month on from his win in the Surrey National at Lingfield, The Galloping Bear landed an even bigger success.

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Nigel Twison-Davies' Bristol De Mai loves it at Haydock having won five times in seven trips including three wins in the Grade One Betfair Chase.

And under Sam Twiston-Davies - who had earlier partnered Wholestone, also trained by his father and owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, to victory in the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle - Bristol De Mai tried to land the National Trial from the front.

And they had many of their rivals in trouble three out as the gallant grey jumped superbly. He led over the third-last fence but carrying top weight and giving 19lb to The Galloping Bear, he began to feel the effects of his efforts.

Jones and The Galloping Bear reeled him in and went on to score in good style

Bristol De Mai was a gallant second 26 lengths ahead of the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Time To Get Up in third.

Trainer Clarke said: "I'm shell shocked. I thought we had a good chance coming here, but when it actually happens - and to beat Bristol De Mai, he's a Haydock legend.

"That's our third