Up 11lb in the weights, the 20-1 chance appeared to have plenty on his plate, but a number of superb leaps from a mile out sealed a momentous triumph.

Fosters Cross opened up a big lead in the early stages but a bad mistake going down the back straight put paid to his chances.

Alfa Beat was sent to the front soon after and although the Byrnes-trained favourite Bideford Legend did his best to reel in the bold-jumping grey, Alfa Beat was not for catching, passing the post with three and three-quarter lengths in hand.

Lenabane ran his best race for some time to finish third, while Galway Plate heroine Blazing Tempo travelled ominously well, but had to make do with fourth.

Hanlon said: ``That was unreal as I honestly thought the ground was gone for him.

“I haven’t had the horse that long and by all reports, he wanted good ground.

“But he’d been working well at home, he was fit and he was in great form and Barry gave him an excellent ride.

“He took him wide, just like he did last year, looking for that bit better ground.

“I gave £75,000 for him at Doncaster and a lot of people thought it was a lot of money.

“I’m delighted for his owner, who is one of the biggest owners in America.

“I was talking to him this morning and he said if we could win an English National he’d be happy going to the grave! I hope we can win it for him.

“He’s going out (into the field) now and he’ll probably have one run and go straight for the National.”