A tilt at the Scottish Grand National could be on the cards for the progressive Prince Of Slane after he put up another solid staying performance to score at Catterick.

Melsonby trainer Alan Swinbank's seven-year-old came from well off the pace to win over three miles and a furlong at the course 13 days ago and he repeated the feat over an extra five furlongs in the Weatherbys Bank North Yorkshire Grand National.

The 8-1 shot, who won the Durham National at Sedgefield in May last year, was given a peach of a ride by Dougie Costello, who dropped him out at the rear of the pack before making relentless headway on the final circuit.

Prince Of Slane threw down his challenge approaching two out and galloped away to win in good style by three-and-a-half lengths from Harlov.

Swinbank's assistant, Bill Haigh, said: ''He's learned to jump now and he didn't do too much wrong today. He's just a young horse and he's learning all the time because he's still really only a novice. Dougie said he's really improving.

''The further he goes the better he goes but he does like this good ground.

''Alan keeps mentioning the Scottish National, so we'll just have to see what the handicapper does.''

Granit D'Estruval came down at the tenth fence, giving Brian Harding a heavy fall, and the jockey was taken to Friarage Hospital in Northallerton for precautionary X-rays on his shoulder.

Monty's Quest was pulled up and dismounted after just eight fences but his trainer, Michael Smith, had better luck 30 minutes later when he saddled Texas Holdem to win the Watt Fences Racecourse Suppliers Handicap Hurdle.

Michael McAlister produced the 11-2 chance to lead at the penultimate flight and he kept him up to his work to gain the day by two-and-a-half lengths from Return Home.

''He ran well in a decent race at Carlisle last time but I think the ground was just too heavy for him,'' said Smith, who is based at Kirkheaton, near Newcastle.

''He can go on most grounds but I think good ground is better for him.

''I had this race in mind for him after Carlisle, back to his own level, 0-130, and you are virtually guaranteed good ground at this track and it has worked out for him.

''I didn't back him because my horse went lame in the race before and I was pretty upset about that so the race was just a blur.''

Colway Ritz (8-1) opened his account over jumps at the ripe old age of 12 in the Bedale Selling Handicap Hurdle and in the process did his trainer Wilf Storey a big favour.

The veteran is a ten-time winner on the Flat but had struggled over timber. However, he came good under a patient ride from Graham Lee to defeat Seraph by a length-and-a-half to end a losing run for the Consett-based handler stretching back 420 days.

Storey said: ''It's been a long time coming.

''Colway Ritz is a banded horse on the Flat so I hope there are some more chances yet for him, but first he'll come back here next week for a two-and-a-half-miler.

''Unfortunately we won't have Graham because it's a conditional jockeys' race.''

There was no bid for Colway Ritz at the post-race auction.

Bingley trainer Sue Smith sent out first and second in the Hipswell Novices' Hurdle, when Cash King was ten lengths too good for Double Turn at the end of the stamina test.

Cash King was backed into 5-4 favouritism but there was also plenty of money for his stable companion, who was supported down to 7-1 from 18-1.

As the betting suggested, they had the race to themselves from the final bend but it was the Dominic Elsworth-ridden market leader who proved the stronger over the extended three miles and a furlong.

The trainer was represented by her husband, Harvey, who said of the winner: ''He'll be all right in time but you must give them time to develop. He's not very big but he'll make a chaser.''

Mumbles Head (11-2) took the Leyburn Maiden National Hunt Flat Race to make trainer Peter Bowen's long journey from Pembrokeshire worthwhile.

He said: ''We'll try and find another bumper on good ground for him. We've already schooled him over fences and he's brilliant over them.''

Cedar Rapids (9-1) took the Come Racing Again on 3rd February Novices' Handicap Chase in the hands of David O'Meara.

But Harry Hogarth's charge may have been slightly fortunate as he was two-lengths down in second when the leader, Ton-Chee, came to grief at the final fence.