TIDAL BAY, who landed the Arkle at Cheltenham, put the rest of the field to the sword on Grand National day at Aintree, landing the Grade 1 John Smith's Magull Novices' Chase by a good six lengths under Denis O'Regan.

Once again, the smile of stable lass Ginny Wright lit up the course as she led her star back to the winner's enclosure and to trainer Howard Johnson and owners Graham and Andrea Wylie.

It seemed to us that Tidal Bay was slightly knocked sideways on the run in by the sheer noise of the cheering racegoers, but then finished his business in fine fashion.

O'Regan said that two miles at Aintree was probably a little sharp for his mount.

Inglis Drever was favourite at Aintree last Thursday for the John Smith's Great Float Social Club Liverpool Hurdle, this year's name for the Long Distance Hurdle, but it was, after his magnificent Cheltenham win, a trip too far and he finished third.

The Wylies' Lennon later led for much of the Red Rum Chase, a Grade 3 handicap, but at the end finished a respectable fourth under O'Regan.

The Wylies' colours were carried by two in the National on Saturday, Bewleys Berry and Backbeat. Wilson Renwick was on the latter and their fate was sealed at Fence No. 2 when they fell.

However, Northern hopes were high late in the second circuit when Bewleys Berry and O'Regan, who had been jumping fluently throughout, went to the front. The little horse was flying his fences, ears pricked, but his stamina just petered out and four went past him, including David Pipe's well-backed Comply Or Die, the winner.

Still, fifth was a great result for the Johnson team and they must be proud of their efforts, especially as only 15 finished. Among the fallers were Keith Mercer on the Paul Murphy-trained Contraband, who did not have a lot of room at the 11th and consequently fell.

It was a Reveley one-two on Saturday in the novice handicap chase for conditionals (jumps apprentices) and amateurs, but an unusual one. James Reveley, riding for Scottish trainer Jim Goldie, won the race on Endless Power, while father Keith Reveley trained the runner up, some 25 lengths behind, Brave Rebellion, partnered by Phil Kinsella.

The bumper (National Hunt flat race) was a one-two-three for Yorkshire, Tom Tate's Honest John beating Alan Swinbank's Touch Of Irish and Malcolm Jefferson's Cape Tribulation. For the record, the fourth was from Yorkshire, too, Sue Smith's Cloudy Times filling that spot. Keith Mercer was the winning jockey.

That race was won last year by Swinbank, but he had some consolation at Chepstow where the odds-on Ignotus landed the opener, a novice hurdle.

Sir Robert Ogden's Exotic Dancer was third in the Grade 2 totesport Bowl Chase on the Thursday, which saw Kauto Star defeated by Our Vic, only a nose between them. Exotic Dancer, of course, had won this one last year.

The familiar pink, mauve and white colours were carried to an emphatic victory next day by Voy Por Ustedes, trained by Alan King and partnered by Robert Thornton, in the Melling Chase, a Grade 1 event.

Lazy Darren ran a cracker in the novice hurdle later for Chris Grant, Dominic Elsworth in the saddle, which at 50-1 paid handsomely for his place. Three Mirrors at 25-1 was almost as good in second in the handicap chase afterwards for Ferdy Murphy, Mercer taking the ride.

At the Aintree meeting, northern jockey Tony Dobbin announced his pending retirement and yesterday after we went to press, he was to have his final two rides at Carlisle. With 1,163 wins before that meeting, in a career spanning 1991 to date, he is the sixth most successful jumps jockey in Britain.

Born in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, in 1972, he has been mainly based in Cumbria at the Richards yard, first for father Gordon and latterly for son Nicky. He is to assist his partner, Rose Davvidson, in her new venture of training.

Dobbin won the National on Lord Gyllene in 1997, the only jockey to do so on a Monday, as the Saturday meeting was called off because of an IRA bomb scare.

Other notable winners included One Man and, two years ago, two of those involved at Aintree this week: Inglis Drever, winner under Dobbin of the 2006 Long Distance Hurdle, and Exotic Dancer who landed the Boylesports.

com Gold Cup the same year.

We ourselves remember him for his affinity with Tim Easterby's Barton, while retired trainer Mary Reveley said she recalled particularly when he won on her Into The Red in the Becher Chase (1996).

One of the young men who may one day match Dobbin's success is Dougie Costello, whose riding has impressed us this term. On Tuesday at Sedgefield, he partnered Andy Crook's stable star Matmata De Tendron to win a fourth at the course.

A-level student John Dawson, 17, an amateur rider must be tough, too, for he partnered Benwell to win the hunter chase, even though he had seven stitches in his face after a fall at Kelso the previous day. Benwell is trained by George Sunter at Ferryhill and runs in his wife Gill's colours.

Conditional Campbell Gillies has made a good relationship with the Chris Grant-trained Theatre Belle and they took the novice hurdle easily, their third this term.

Denis O'Regan won for Howard Johnson and fellow owner Matthew Green on Wee Forbees.

On the level, it has been mostly a question of all-weather meetings, although on Thursday last, Kevin Ryan, Mark Johnston and Michael Dods all took turf wins at Leicester.

Newcastle's first of the season was on Saturday and Mick Easterby landed a good race with Pertemps Network. Also on the scoresheet were Paul Midgeley, Linda Stubbs - with a bit of a springer, Saxford - and, of course, Mark Johnston.

On the sand the usual suspects were found winning: the two Davids, Nicholls and Barron, Mick Easterby again, Kevin Ryan and Richard Fahey. Ruth Carr had a good Kempton win and Julie Camacho sent out a first winner of the year at Southwell.

This weekend's tips (if running: always check if they are listed on the day) are: Today, Doncaster: 1.40 August Gale; 2.10 Bivouac; 2.40 Prince Hamlet, with biggest danger Mukbar; 3.15 Dnata Flyer (forgiving a green run at Catterick last week); 3.50 Puy D'Arnac (possible danger from Charlotte Vale, Seb Sanders booked); 4.25 Bo McGinty & Bel Cantor (reverse forecast); 5.0 Yakimov; 5.35 Viscountess (danger, Centenerola).

Musselburgh: 3.40 Always Certain & Complete Frontline; 4.15 Tajweed; 4.50 Cha Cha Cha & Ansells Pride.

Tomorrow, Doncaster: 2.30 River Rye; 3.05 Canadian Danehill & Strike Up The Band; 3.35 Blythe Knight (NAP); 4.10 Tencendur & Swinbrook; 4.45 Thebes; 5.15 Magic Echo or Honourable Love; 5.50 between Al Wasef & Platoche.

Kempton: 3.20 Robby Bobby; 3.55 Monkey Glas.