In the feature race of day two, Harry Skelton rode 5-1 shot Grey Dawning to victory in the Melling Chase for his older brother Dan Skelton.
After his win in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Festival, Heart Wood was the 6-5 favourite, but could only manage third place at Aintree.
With last year’s winner Jonbon not running, the field was open and jockey Skelton said aggressive riding “definitely helped” Grey Dawning hold off second-placed Solness by a neck.
He added: “This win will mean an awful lot to his owner, Robert Kirkland, because his wife very sadly passed away, and I’ll dedicate this race to her.
“She was a tremendous lady and Robert has been an unreliable supporter of Dan and I since we started out and it’s lovely to repay him with a good winner.
“Hopefully this will just lift his spirits a little bit and help him through a tough period of his life.”
Trainer Dan Skelton said: “He was really brave today. He needed to be and he was.”
Will The Wise claimed victory in the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences.
The seven-year-old gradually worked his way through the 27-runner field to challenge the leader and 7-2 favourite Madara.
Jockey Conor Stone-Walsh placed the 9-1 shot into third before making a move over the final fence to provide trainer Gavin Cromwell with his first success of the day.
Cheltenham Festival winner Madara finished third, with Mullins’ Ile Atlantique in second place.
Jonjo O’Neill Jr rode 6-1 shot Wellington Arch to victory in the Handicap Hurdle to start day two at Aintree, but he was chased right to the line by Ike Sport, who was priced at 14-1.
In the Top Novices’ Hurdle, Storming George, with odds of 16-1, took first place for trainer Neil King, finishing almost three lengths clear of the Dan Skelton-trained Sinnatra.
