Aintree report: Moscow Flyer's regal procession in the John Smith's Melling Chase yesterday was the centrepiece of an outstanding Irish four-timer that included a 50 to 1 skinner over the big fences in the Topham.

Cregg House's pre-race strike- rate of just four wins from 51 career starts probably justified the huge price, but under an inspired Davy Russell the horse trained in Cavan by Shane Donohoe tamed the National fences in style.

However, when it comes to style and strike rates there is nothing currently operating on four legs that can compare to Moscow Flyer.

The two-mile champion made nothing of the extra half mile he had to travel to win the Melling for the second year running by 16 lengths from Le Roi Miguel and managed to do so in a manner that suggests he is as good as ever.

"He was better there than he was at Cheltenham. There is no real reason for that, he's just real well, and that was as good a feel as he gave me in the Tingle Creek at Sandown," said Barry Geraghty.

In fact Moscow Flyer was so well in the run-up that trainer Jessica Harrington was winding the jockey up that maybe the King George over three miles might be an option next season.

Geraghty's sense of humour is usually robust but the idea of having to choose between Moscow Flyer and Kicking King would be enough to induce an eight-month long headache.

"We are going to let him do what he does best," Harrington reassured yesterday. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. All being well he will go to Punchestown."

The only slight worry on Moscow Flyer's passage to making it 19 from 19 completed starts over fences came through his sheer exuberance early on, but Le Roi Miguel's trainer, Paul Nicholls, summed it up best when he said: "We came up against a very, very special horse."

Davy Russell is one of the tallest riders in the game and as a result has a constant battle with the scales. But he performed some pre-Topham heroics to only put up 1lb overweight on Cregg House.

"I only found out I was riding the day before so it was a struggle. I've only had a cup of tea since," said the Cork-born rider after Cregg House jumped impeccably to hold off Haut De Gamme by a length.

Trainer Shane Donohoe's wife Samantha was in charge of operations because she rides the quirky ex-Paddy Mullins-trained horse out every morning and said: "He doesn't really like racing but he was enjoying himself today!"

Paddy Mullins retired less than two months ago and his son Tom saddled his first UK winner from just two runners as Asian Maze led from a circuit out to hold off Brewster in the Grade One Sefton Hurdle. Ruby Walsh stepped in for Paul Carberry who rested a leg injury yesterday and Mullins said: "I was delighted Ruby could take over as he won on her three times before. I was looking for an excuse not to come here, but I couldn't find one. The 7lb allowance was a big help too. I've been coming here since 1983 with horses like Dawn Run and I'm trying not to bring horses over here unless they have half a chance."

Walsh doubled up on the Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Sleeping Night in the handicap chase but was out of sight in the opening Mildmay Chase as Like-A-Butterfly added to her Powers Gold Cup triumph in the Grade Two. Despite impressively beating See You Sometime, Christy Roche said: "I've never got her back to what she was in her bumper days. She is some mare though. Not many win Grade Ones in bumpers, hurdles and fences."

The four winners yesterday alone eclipsed the tally of three Irish winners from the entire festival last year.