Innox scores under Tony McCoy.

Francois Doumen delivered a powerful rebuttal to fears over the wellbeing of his string as he dominated proceedings at Sandown Park, highlighted by a one-two in the £100,000 Racing Post Chase.

Punters who ignored the Frenchman's warnings over recent bad weather affecting the fitness of his horses were cheering as Innox ran out a two-and-a-half-length victor over stablemate L'Ami.

The 8-1 winner led at the Pond Fence three out in the hands of champion jockey Tony McCoy and sealed success with a huge jump at the last that almost saw him land too steeply.

He was chased home by top-weight L'Ami, who ran a fine trial for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup as he stayed on under Arnaud Duchene.

L'Ami was originally offered at 20-1 in places for that prize after the race but is now down to 16-1 and shorter - a price that still looks fair value in an open renewal.

Innox heads next for the John Smith's Grand National for which he is a general 16-1 chance.

His owner JP McManus, who already has favourite Clan Royal for the race, is a 7-2 chance with Ladbrokes to achieve his long-held ambition of taking the Aintree spectacular.

It was Schuh Shine and Ballycassidy who helped ensure the race was run at a decent gallop and the latter was still in front when Innox took control.

There was a dramatic moment at the last where Risk Accessor - staying-on in fifth - crashed out through the wing giving his rider Noel Fehily a nasty scare. Horse and jockey were quickly on their feet, however.

McCoy, dashing off to Chepstow after weighing-in, said: "He kept doing it for me, but he got a bit outpaced at the Railway Fences and jumped a bit left there. I had to get after him a bit earlier than I wanted, but the big thing about him was he was always going to stay.

"Mr Doumen said he wasn't 100 per cent certain about his fitness because he wasn't sure about some of his horses. But he was fit enough.

"The Grand National is a long way off, but I'm glad I've ridden a good winner for Mr McManus."

Doumen was delighted with the performance of both his horses.

"It was not at all my intention to run L'Ami here under top weight but I had wanted to run in the Aon at Newbury and that was called off and I needed to get a run into him," he said.

"Arnaud gave him a good ride. He got him clear on the outside and did not use his whip too much.

"Despite all of the difficulties we have had to train with the weather, they have come and run well.

"We don't have the sort of all-weather facilities to get them fit when it is freezing and we have not been able to use the grass for two weeks.

"Mr McManus dreams of having a good chance at Aintree and after this horse's seventh in the Grand National last year it has always been the plan to go back.

"He seems to do well when he is fresh as he hadn't run for 90 days before today. He might give Cheltenham a miss and go straight to Aintree now."