A depleted field of just three runners went to post for the Grade Two contest and having finished second in the Arkle Trial at Cheltenham and the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on his last two starts, Dan Skelton’s Be Aware was the 8-15 favourite to get back on the winning trail.

Sent straight to the lead by Harry Skelton, the grey raced enthusiastically for much of the two-mile journey, with Olly Murphy’s Alnilam keeping close tabs on him while the Ben Pauling-trained No Questions Asked appeared to be struggling to keep up with the strong gallop.

However, the complexion of the race changed quickly on the approach to the fourth fence from home, with Alnilam checking out quickly before Be Aware made bad mistakes at the next two fences to hand No Questions Asked and Ben Jones the initiative.

Be Aware did rally to make a race of it on the run-in, but Pauling’s charge found just enough to prevail by a length.

Pauling said: “The race looked over after two fences and his work at home had been quiet and he hasn’t been in the form of his life, so there will be plenty of improvement to come.

“I’m delighted to have won a great prize and Fitzdares, the sponsor, have been a great supporter of mine.

“At half-way I honestly thought he might pick up the second because they had gone so hard, but I think we were helped by Be Aware’s jumping. He might be a fortunate winner but jumping is the name of the game and he’s run well.

“He’s found plenty and as you saw at Newbury, he stays well. He had to show some guts and he did. I’m thrilled to have won this and he deserves his Grade Two. He’s a nice horse with a lot to come and will stay further in time – he is going to be a lot of fun.”

Pauling had previously seen the Grand Annual as the ideal spot for the winner in the spring, but this victory has now opened up more options over further, including skipping the Cheltenham Festival in favour of a trip to Merseyside.

“There’s lots of options from two to two and a half miles and he might end up missing Cheltenham and going to Aintree over two and a half for the Grade One,” added Pauling.

“I wouldn’t have taken him to the Festival on the form he’s shown at home, so he’ll need to spark and if he’s not flying at home you probably won’t see him again until he runs in a proper race as I’ve got to freshen him up and get him in A1 form.

“He’s going to be rated around 147 now and as we know a lot of the best novice chasers go and knock socks off each other at Cheltenham, so you don’t have to necessarily be a 160 horse to win an Aintree novice chase.”