Mark Oulaghan landed the biggest Grand National Steeplechase uppercut of all when he claimed his fifth victory in Riccarton's prestigious jumping feature.
The Awapuni trainer's conditioning skills were perfectly showcased when he produced Upper Cut for an impressive survival of the fittest performance to claim top honours in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge-sponsored event.
Now the most successful trainer in the history of the race following earlier wins with Deecee Seven (1997, 1998) and Counter Punch (2010, 2011), he has been patient with Upper Cut who required a year off following a tendon injury in 2012.
"He won his first two 'chases and then had a sequence of problems so full credit to the horse for the way he has bounced back," Oulaghan said.
Upper Cut has been sparingly raced due to his injuries, but there was confidence in his camp ahead of the National following a brave effort to finish runner-up in the Koral Steeplechase seven days ago.