A sparkling treble from Paul Nicholls more than redeemed reverses for his two stable stars at the Aintree festival. Master Minded went the way of Kauto Star in failing to deliver his best, yet the Nicholls bandwagon approaches Grand National day with forward momentum.

Pierrot Lunaire rounded off another memorable afternoon for the champion trainer when he complemented earlier victories from Big Buck's and Gwanako. Now Nicholls yearns to slake his National drought when Mr Pointment and Turko face the starter this afternoon.

The man who gave him a run for his money yesterday was Nigel Twiston-Davies, upon whom fortune could have smiled more favourably. His Battlecry almost banked the second-last before he was overhauled by Big Buck's, while Irish Raptor, runner-up in the John Smith's Topham Trophy, will rarely encounter as talented a foe as Gwanako.

“What a pony,” Nicholls exclaimed of Gwanako, whose lack of physical stature proved no barrier to him carting 11st 8lb over the Aintree spruce. “He was running over hurdles six months ago and now he's done this.” From the way he vaulted the last two fences, Gwanako is an embryonic National horse. The five-year-old is one more French-bred with springs for heels.

Twiston-Davies himself struck gold with Pettifour to cap a memorable campaign, yet the £140 fine he incurred for withdrawing Ardaghey from the totepool Handicap Chase soiled his day. That was a consequence of Nicholls withdrawing Opera Mundi from the National, thus promoting Ardaghey into the field as first reserve. “If I was deliberately breaking the rules then go for my throat,” the angry trainer said, “but I have done nothing wrong.”

The Topham was scarred when Time To Sell and In The High Grass were put down with irreversible injuries. Adrian Joyce, who rode In The High Grass, was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm, while Mick FitzGerald, who fell heavily from Crozan, was sufficiently shaken to give up later rides.

FitzGerald's mood would not have improved when Andrew Tinkler replaced him for the winning ride aboard Oedipe in the handicap chase. And Tinkler soon completed a double when Carole's Legacy captured the concluding mares' bumper.

Nicholls, who saw Kauto Star defeated on Thursday, made light of Master Minded's eclipse by Voy Por Ustedes in the Melling Chase over 2 miles. This was a comprehensive reversal from their Cheltenham encounter last month, when Master Minded looked like Arkle reincarnate in slaying Voy Por Ustedes.

Nicholls opined that the extra half-mile here made the difference. “He is a two-miler pure and simple,” he said of Master Minded. “Ruby [Walsh]couldn't ride him aggressively over this trip, as he did at Cheltenham, but we now know where we are with him.”

Master Minded's stamina gave out in a handful of strides. He is not like his trainer, who has run hard without flinching for the entire season.