Tag Archive for: Ascot

Rebel Territory claims Victoria Cup spoils for Amanda Perrett

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Rebel Territory was an Ascot hero for Amanda Perrett when making light work of the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Victoria Cup.

A winner over this seven-furlong distance at Newmarket on his return, the five-year-old was sent off at 11-1 for what is typically a fiercely-contested handicap and was part of a select group to race on the far side of the track with Richard Fahey’s Zip taking that cluster along.

Defending champion Vafortino was at the head of affairs of those to race stands side and at one stage it looked as if Kevin Philippart De Foy’s five-year-old was about to pull off back-to-back triumphs.

But as the runners entered the final furlong it became obvious that Rebel Territory in the hands of Jim Crowley was moving best and that they would be confirming Rowley Mile form over Vafortino from their clash last time.

Crowley allowed Rebel Territory to drift out into the centre of the track before storming four-lengths clear of Biggles in the closing stages, blitzing a high-class ensemble of handicappers.

Perrett believes the drop back to seven furlongs has been key to her charge’s early-season success and will now wait to see what the handicapper does before deciding on her next move, with a return to the Berkshire track for Royal Ascot and trips to France among the options.

She said: “He had conditions very much in his favour and he was lucky he got such a good lead. But he still had to do it on his own down the middle of the track and we are absolutely delighted.

“The key has been the drop back to seven furlongs on that ground. In the summer months we might go back up to a mile, but it opens up so many options. He’s versatile and is settling and relaxing and enjoying his racing.

“They didn’t really quicken on and just plugged on and he enjoys those conditions because he can handle them and not many horses can.”

She added: “We’ll have to wait and see what the handicapper does, he could go back to Royal Ascot and run in the Buckingham Palace and there’s plenty of other nice races coming up. We might even take him to France if it gets quick.

“I think we’re going to be guided by what happens next Tuesday.”

Chindit strikes first time out again to land Paradise Stakes

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Chindit won first time out for the fourth successive year when making nearly all the running in the Howden Bloodstock Paradise Stakes at Ascot.

Sent off the 5-2 joint-favourite with his Richard Hannon-trained stablemate Lusail, his task was made significantly easier by the morning withdrawal of William Haggas’ Champion Stakes third My Prospero with a dirty scope.

Chindit could only beat those put in front of him, however, and he once again proved how well he goes fresh with a dominant display under Pat Dobbs.

Dobbs was keen to dictate matters and one by one his opponents came off the bridle and once Raadobarg came under pressure Chindit began to pull clear.

The field began to close inside the final 100 yards and it was David Simcock’s lightly-raced Cash who got to within three-quarters of a length at the line but the result was never in doubt.

Hannon said: “That’s the fourth year in a row he’s won and he’s much more relaxed.

“He would have preferred to get a lead but he had his own way in front.

“I think he will go for the Lockinge next, then the Queen Anne and maybe Australia at the end of the year.

“He’s an extremely reliable and very sound horse, and will make an extremely good stallion.

“There are a good few races down there (in Australia) as well as races like the Shadwell Mile round two bends in the US.”

Maximum Impact lived up to the huge promise of his debut win and provided Alice Haynes with a first Ascot winner in the process when running out a convincing winner of the Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes.

A 12-length winner on heavy ground at Leicester, he proved he can handle a much quicker surface on this occasion as the Havana Grey colt bounded clear on good ground.

It was the two previous winners who dominated throughout, with Hollie Doyle on Archie Watson’s Action Point smartly away and bagging the rail.

Maximum Impact takes in his surroundings
Maximum Impact takes in his surroundings (PA)

With a furlong to run, Action Point appeared to be going marginally the better but when Kevin Stott got into the drive position on Maximum Impact he soon began to assert, with the evens favourite coming home two and a quarter lengths to the good. The Line made a pleasing debut in third.

The winner was cut to 16-1 from 25s for the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes by Coral, but Haynes may be tempted to step him up to six furlongs for the Coventry Stakes.

Haynes said: “It’s the first battle he’s had, but he hit the line strongly. He has a very relaxed attitude and came back in with his ears pricked.

“The owners have lots of two-year-olds but this one will enjoy the step up to six furlongs. He has a great brain and we had to come here to test him.

“There’s a race at Sandown (National Stakes) but I think we will probably wait and come back here.”

Chasing Aphrodite streaks clear under Pierre-Louis Jamin
Chasing Aphrodite streaks clear under Pierre-Louis Jamin (David Davies/PA)

Roger Varian’s Yaanaas was all the rage ahead of the Howden Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap following two wins on the all-weather.

He cruised to the front a furlong out under Aidan Keeley but the challengers were mounting on his inside, the strongest of which was Chasing Aphrodite (8-1).

Having his first run since wind surgery, Harry Eustace’s four-year-old came with a perfectly-timed challenge under Pierre-Louis Jamin to win by a length and a half from the favourite.

Jamin said: “The sun and wind are having an impact on the ground, but my main concern was to get him some cover which would help him get his head down and settle.

“He’s definitely benefitted from a wind operation since his last run.”

Queen For You was an eyecatching winner on debut
Queen For You was an eyecatching winner on debut (David Davies/PA)

John and Thady Gosden’s Queen For You (4-1) made a very impressive winning debut against rivals with experience in the Naas Racecourse Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Beautifully bred as a daughter of Kingman out of Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You, she was a comfortable two-length winner under Rab Havlin.

Thady Gosden said: “She’d been going nicely at home and her mother won the Coronation Stakes while Kingman was a champion miler.

“So yes, we would take a look at the Coronation Stakes. It’s five weeks away but another run would benefit her.”

Cold Case swoops late for Commonwealth Trial triumph

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Cold Case began his season in the best possible fashion when coming home strongly to win the British Racing School 40th Anniversary Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot.

Karl Burke’s three-year-old enjoyed a good season last year, winning a valuable sales race at Doncaster before ending with success in the Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar.

Sent off a 5-1 chance in what looked a very strong Group Three, he was caught out for speed over a furlong from home as Hollie Doyle and Bradsell, returning from a lengthy absence, shot clear.

Archie Watson’s Coventry Stakes winner looked as though he was about to resume winning ways, but on his first start since sustaining an injury in the Phoenix Stakes 270 days ago, he began to tire in the closing stages.

Clifford Lee on Cold Case sensed his opportunity and swept into the lead, triumphing by a length and a half, with 125-1 outsider The X O finishing well for second. Bradsell was a further short head back in third.

Lee said: “I thought as he hadn’t run for a while he might need it, but he picked up really well.

“He’s a good galloper, very consistent, and he has a bit of boot as well.

“I will be more confident wherever he goes next time.”

Coltrane stakes Gold Cup claim with Sagaro success

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Andrew Balding’s Coltrane turned the tables on his Champions Day conqueror Trueshan with a dominant display in the Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot.

Just touched off by Alan King’s Trueshan in the Long Distance Cup, having won the Doncaster Cup a month previously, Coltrane (11-4) is now one of the leading contenders for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot after landing this notable trial.

Having missed over a year between October 2020 and November 2021, it took a while for him to resume the progress he had shown at three.

However, last season it all clicked and and he progressed from finishing second on his reappearance in the Chester Cup off 95 to win the Ascot Stakes before locking horns with Trueshan et al in the Cup races.

Trueshan had something to prove having been beaten by Rajinsky at Nottingham last month and while he gained revenge on that rival, he had to settle for fourth this time.

Hollie Doyle raised the pace aboard Trueshan half a mile from home, but Oisin Murphy was able to easily track her before quickening clear to win by four and three-quarter lengths.

Wise Eagle ran a massive career best in second, with El Habeeb taking third.

Betfair make the winner the 5-1 second-favourite for the Gold Cup behind Aidan O’Brien’s Emily Dickinson at 7-2.

Oisin Murphy salutes the crowd on Coltrane
Oisin Murphy salutes the crowd on Coltrane (PA)

Balding said: “He looked very good when he won the Melrose (at three) and he hasn’t really looked back.

“To come back here in June is the plan and he’s very versatile ground-wise and he’s a course and distance winner.”

Murphy, riding his first Pattern-race winner in the UK since returning from a 14-month suspension, added: “It’s fantastic to ride so many winners for Andrew, including a few better races like on Good Friday.

“This horse has very lucky owners (Janice and Mick Mariscotti) who have 10 horses with him. Coltrane is in the form of his life, and Andrew has done a terrific job getting him to his best.”

Trueshan on his way to post at Ascot
Trueshan on his way to post at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Trueshan could also contest the Gold Cup next month, but King is eyeing a possible switch in code.

He said: “It’s ground dependent, but we’ll train him for the Gold Cup. There’s a strong possibility you might see him over hurdles in the autumn.

“The Northumberland Plate, the Goodwood Cup and Ascot in October were all tough races and I hope they haven’t left their mark on him.

“I brought him back to win here and we had to come, but it was always going to be tough to beat Coltrane.

“His next race will tell us an awful lot, but whatever happens he’s been the most wonderful servant.”

Ward lining up another strong Royal Ascot challenge

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Wesley Ward’s Royal Ascot team is taking shape and they are set to form part of a formidable overseas challenge on the meeting.

Ward’s Love Reigns, fourth in last year’s Queen Mary, and Twilight Gleaming, second in the same race two years ago, are both on course to return.

They could be joined by Brad Cox’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint heroine Caravel.

Twilight Gleaming (left) was beaten by Quick Suzy at Ascot in 2021
Twilight Gleaming (left) was beaten by Quick Suzy at Ascot in 2021 (David Davies/PA)

Ward said: “Love Reigns and Twilight Gleaming are doing great. They are both coming off nice comeback wins and their owner Barbara Banke (of Stonestreet Stables) is really looking forward to getting them over there. She loves Ascot as much as me and we are all excited.

“I was really happy with Love Reigns in the Limestone Stakes. She had to switch a couple of times in the run but showed a great attitude to get up on the line, while Twilight Gleaming showed a lot of speed in her comeback race.

“Twilight Gleaming will definitely go for the King’s Stand Stakes, whereas Love Reigns will have an entry there and in the Commonwealth Cup.”

Ward has made his name winning the juvenile contests at Ascot and American Rascal, a son of his Queen Mary and King’s Stand winner Lady Aurelia, made a big impression when winning on his debut.

“American Rascal has come out of his first race in super shape. The team at Stonestreet really liked him and it was exciting to see him produce a performance like that.” said Ward.

“Fandom looks another good prospect after his debut win on the grass and we also have some nice two-year-olds to run at Belmont, so we will see what else unfolds in the coming days.

“Bledsoe has already travelled over to England and will run in a novice race at Ascot on May 13. He won America’s first two-year-old race of the year on the dirt at Keeneland but his mother Shrinking Violet was a multiple stakes winner of the turf, so we are looking forward to getting him on the grass.”

Kenny McPeek’s Classic Causeway could be a rare American runner in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes while Jorge Delgado’s New York Thunder is a possible for the Commonwealth Cup.

Artorius went through his paces on the July Course before the July Cup
Artorius went through his paces on the July Course before the July Cup (Beth McCabe)

There looks set to be a strong Australian representation in the sprint contests, with Artorius back for more having finished third in the Platinum Jubilee last year.

Trainer Sam Freedman said: “Artorius had his first improving gallop the other day, having come off a bit of a fresh. He seems to be shaping up really well and will have a couple of trials over here before we put him on the plane.

“I think he is definitely hitting Royal Ascot this year in better form than he was 12 months ago. He is not far off the likes of Anamoe and his win in the Canterbury has worked out, with the runner-up Imperatriz going on to win another Group One.

“There are a few Aussies coming over again this year. I think you will see a decent filly in the King’s Stand in Coolangatta and then you have an older horse in The Astrologist, who is right around the mark. Our horse proved last year that he is up to competing over there and, provided a few things go his way, we would be very hopeful of another big performance.”

Coolangatta is trained by David Eustace, son of former Newmarket handler, James, in partnership with Ciaron Maher.

“Coolangatta galloped yesterday and will have her first proper workout next week. She has improved again physically from the Lightning Stakes and we feel we are ahead of the game in terms of her preparation,” said Eustace.

“We are stepping into the unknown when it comes to international travel but Coolangatta has done a lot of travelling around Australia and is used to being in unfamiliar places. We are hopeful that she will handle that side of things well but you never know until you do it.

“We think the 1,000 metres of the King’s Stand, with the uphill finish, looks ideal and genuine fast ground will be to her advantage as well.”

The Astrologist, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, is already in the UK and will take in a prep race ahead of Ascot having run in Dubai.

“He has settled beautifully in Newmarket – he is a very adaptable horse and enjoys the travel. The plan is for him to have a racecourse gallop this week on the Rowley Mile in preparation for the 1895 Duke of York Stakes,” said Troy Corstens.

“He will then head to Royal Ascot for the Platinum Jubilee. We feel that this will be the perfect race for him. He is a renowned straight-track horse in Australia and we feel the testing course of Ascot will suit him immensely.”

Bradsell returns in cracking Commonwealth Cup Trial

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Hollie Doyle is excited to be reunited with Bradsell in the British Racing School 40th Anniversary Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot

A hugely impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, he has not been seen since picking up an injury when only fourth of five in the Phoenix Stakes behind Little Big Bear.

With no pretentions of him staying a mile, trainer Archie Watson brings him back in a Group Three previously known as the Pavilion Stakes with a return to the big meeting in June firmly in his and Doyle’s thoughts.

“We’re looking forward to getting him back,” said Doyle.

“He’s looking like a typical sprinter now and he’s a chunky little horse. His work has been pretty solid and it’s a great starting point.

“It’s practically the Commonwealth Cup minus a few so it’s a very hot race. He has his course and distance form and although he may be unknown on the ground, a few of them are in the same boat.”

Charlie Fellowes is keen to see his Vintage Stakes winner Marbaan drop back in trip.

While that Group Two triumph at Goodwood last summer came over seven furlongs, he was well beaten in both the National Stakes and the Dewhurst over the same trip and Fellowes hopes he can make a successful return to sprinting on Royal Ascot Trials Day.

Marbaan (right) winning the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood
Marbaan (right) winning the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood (Adam Davy/PA)

“I felt towards the end of last year that maybe he didn’t quite see out the seven furlongs,” said the Newmarket handler.

“Being by Oasis Dream, I think there’s a good chance he might be happier over six furlongs and I think Ascot will really suit him.

“I think the ground will be perfect and I guess we’ll find out where we really stand for this year.

“He took a while to come to hand this year but he did a really nice piece of work last week and that’s given me the confidence that six furlongs should be fine.”

Mischief Magic will run for Charlie Appleby in the royal blue silks of Godolphin.

Mischief Magic and William Buick
Mischief Magic and William Buick (Steven Paston/PA)

The son of Exceed And Excel won four of his six juvenile starts, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, and Appleby is satisfied with how his colt has progressed ahead of his seasonal debut.

“We have been pleased with Mischief Magic. He is better suited to a bigger field and a sounder surface but it’s very much a starting point for the season and hopefully a stepping stone to the Commonwealth Cup,” the trainer said on the Godolphin website.

Richard Hannon will saddle both Trillium, a three-time winner who defeated The Platinum Queen in the Flying Childers last season, and the Amo Racing-owned Magical Sunset.

The latter was a five-length winner of the Radley Stakes last season and was most recently seen finishing fifth as the beaten favourite in the Fred Darling last month.

Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager at Amo Racing, said: “We were a touch disappointed after Newbury. She was drawn out on the wrong side and just flattened out a touch.

“It looks an incredibly strong race but we hope the drop back to six furlongs will help her. These sprinters go and get quicker with age and Richard says she is dynamite at home.

“She got quicker and she’s a fast filly so we hope this stiff six will play to her strengths. She will definitely travel well into the race and let’s hope she is good enough to be competitive.”

Cold Case, who landed the Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar last season, will run for Karl Burke, while Andrew Balding’s Desert Cop makes his first start on turf after winning on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle last time out.

The field is completed by the Richard Fahey-trained Rousing Encore, second in the Mill Reef, and John Ryan’s The X O.

Trueshan back at Ascot with something to prove

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Alan King feels Trueshan has tightened up since his surprise defeat on his seasonal debut and is keen to see how a rematch with his Nottingham conqueror Rajinsky plays out in the Longines Sagaro Stakes.

With the usual proviso about soft ground dictating plans for the rest of the season, there is sufficient cut in the ground to enable King to run his star stayer in the Group Three contest on Royal Ascot Trials Day for the first time.

Trueshan, winner of the Prix du Cadran in 2021, signed off last season with a third success in the British Champions Long Distance Cup, beating Coltrane by a head.

The pair meet again on similar terms, although King’s charge has yet to be beaten at Ascot.

Trueshan returns to the same course and distance on the back of a season-opening defeat by Hugo Palmer’s Rajinsky by half a length at Colwick Park.

King said: “I don’t think anything went wrong at Nottingham aside from he didn’t win. He just got a bit tired on that very deep ground.

“He looks to have tightened up and has worked very well since, so we’ll see what happens on Wednesday.

“He has always got beaten the odd time here and there but on the whole he is very consistent.

“It is a good, tight race, a quality race, and it will be interesting. We’re happy this end, and hoping for a good show.”

Trueshan, who will be ridden by Hollie Doyle as usual, has yet to see his colours lowered at Ascot in three previous visits.

With last season’s Gold Cup winner Kyprios suffering a setback, one of the best stayers in several years may not be ready in time to defend his title.

However, King insists Trueshan will only run at the Royal meeting should there be ease in the ground.

“He is always ground dependent,” he added. “He can only go where there is a bit of soft in the ground. Even good ground is too quick for him these days.

“Let’s get this out of the way. We have entered him for the Gold Cup this morning, but his whole programme revolves round the weather.”

Trueshan’s Nottingham conqueror Rajinsky takes him on again instead of lining up in next week’s Chester Cup, but Harry Davies’ mount is worse off at the weights this time.

Palmer said: “He produced a career-best last time and he is going to need to improve on that this time, not least for the fact that he meets Trueshan on 2lb worse terms.

“But the horse goes well at Ascot and we’ve been happy with him since, although these are very deep waters.”

Like Trueshan, Rajinsky has been handed a Gold Cup entry and is similarly ground-dependent.

“The Gold Cup entries closed on Tuesday, and we have put him in,” added Palmer. “The horse needs soft ground and I am slightly worried about the ground’s ability to dry out at Ascot.

“I’m worried about this week, but we’ve seen Ascots where it has been bottomless at the Royal meeting and if we’ve got a soft-ground Royal Ascot, he’d definitely be worth taking his chance, because I think there would be a chance that he’d say further.”

Kevin Philippart De Foy could send El Habeeb stateside for his next outing, should he run well.

The four-year-old, who signed off his Classic campaign with victory in the Listed Noel Murless at Ascot over two furlongs shorter, ran well in defeat on his first try over two miles in Dubai in March.

El Habeeb and Andrea Atzeni return to the scene of their Noel Murless success
El Habeeb and Andrea Atzeni return to the scene of their Noel Murless success (Adam Davy/PA)

The strapping son of Al Rifai could then return to run in the Gold Cup.

“He filled out well over the winter and should have come on for his run in Dubai,” said Philippart De Foy.

“This will be the most competitive race he’s run in and you have some true Group One horses in the race, but we are happy with the way his preparation has been and the horse is in a good place.

“The good to soft ground should be perfect and it will be interesting to see him against that kind of company, and we will have a better idea of what we do going forward.

“Winning will be difficult, but if we can be placed that would be great. After that, there is a nice race at Belmont in early June, a two-mile race for four-year-olds, that could suit him.

“He travelled very well to Dubai and put weight on once he got there. If he ran well, we would have to consider coming back for the Gold Cup – at the moment he would have to improve a fair bit to take part in the Gold Cup. This will tell us a bit more.”

Younger racegoers targeted in Champions Series initiative

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A new initiative has been launched by Qipco British Champions Series aimed at attracting younger racegoers to top Flat meetings during the summer.

‘Club 26’ is a free-to-join club for people aged between 18-26, with initial ticket offers announced being £10 general admission for club members to the Qipco Guineas Festival at Newmarket on May 6-7 and British Champions Day at Ascot in October.

Further discounted offers will be announced, while club members can benefit from behind-the-scenes tours and raceday previews.

Rod Street, chief executive of Qipco British Champions Series, said: “Our objective is to get a younger audience closer to horse racing, by involving them in some of the best Flat racing occasions in the calendar. Horse racing takes a bit of understanding, but by involving people more closely in the racing experience, we know the magic can rub off and create lifetime aficionados.

“We believe the initial offer is fantastic value and there will be more to come as the British Flat racing season goes on.”

Sheikh Fahad, director of Qipco and whose colours were carried to 2000 Guineas glory by Kameko in 2020, said: “We are passionate about attracting young people to horse racing as future fans and participants and are very proud to launch Club 26 ahead of the Qipco Guineas Festival.

“We have lots of exciting plans for the Club and hope it educates and encourages more 18-26 year olds, who are key to the future of this sport, to come racing.”

Johnston outlines Dubai and Ascot options for Subjectivist

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The Dubai Gold Cup and the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot are the options under consideration for Subjectivist, with trainer Charlie Johnston far from despondent following his comeback run in Saudi Arabia.

The six-year-old was making his first competitive appearance in 618 days in Saturday’s Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, having been sidelined by injury since his brilliant victory in the 2021 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Hopes were high that he could make a fairytale return to the winner’s enclosure in Riyadh – but after managing to get to the front from his wide draw, his early exertions took their toll and he faded to finish 12th of 13 runners.

While disappointed with the result, Johnston has not given up on the prospect of Subjectivist once again establishing himself as a major Gold Cup contender.

“Of course I was hoping he would run better than he did,” said the Middleham handler.

“But given the way race panned out, he was obviously very, very fresh after a long time off and that was more accentuated by the fact that Joe (Fanning) had to light him up a bit to get him over from that draw. Once he’d lit the fuse, there was no going back.

“He was very, very keen for the first circuit. It was always going to be a big ask after that long a lay-off, but once he’d been as keen as he was, it was no huge surprise to see him get quite tired in the closing stages.

“Obviously we hoped and dreamed he could come back and win – we wouldn’t have gone there if we didn’t think that.

“But at the same time for the horse to show that he’s still got plenty of enthusiasm for the game and I don’t think he looked out of place in that field, giving a stone to some of the best stayers in the world, at least the dream is still alive that he could still be competitive at the highest level in staying races this year.

“We were a little bit disappointed on the night, but we’re far from down and out, that’s for sure.”

Future plans for Subjectivist are slightly complicated by the fact his return flight from Riyadh has been delayed.

A tilt at the Dubai Gold Cup (March 25), which he also won two years ago, is not being ruled out but appears dependent on how quickly he recovers from his recent trip across the globe.

Charlie Johnston still has high hopes for Subjectivist
Charlie Johnston still has high hopes for Subjectivist (Mike Egerton/PA)

Johnston added: “They were originally due to fly back tomorrow (Wednesday) but that has now been delayed until Friday, so he won’t be home until then.

“At the moment he seems fine. We’ll get a better handle on things once he’s back home, but the initial signs are good, so that’s promising at least.

“This delay makes things worse in that there’s only four weeks between Saudi and Dubai and now, given the time it’s taking to get him home and the time he’d need to leave before the race at Meydan, he’d only be back here for two weeks, so that is obviously going to have to be factored in.

“If he doesn’t go to Dubai, something like the Sagaro would seem the obvious next port of call for him, but we’ll wait and see the horse when he gets home and speak to Dr Jim (Walker, owner) and make a plan from there.”

Elite performance from Oscar books Ultima ticket

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Oscar Elite provided Joe Tizzard with a first Graded race winner in his own name when outpointing the odds-on favourite Bold Endeavour in the Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot.

Placed in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in his days over hurdles, he also went close at the big meeting last year in the Ultima Handicap Chase as a novice.

Having failed to win over fences to date, he brought plenty of experience to the table as a second-season novice but he looked up against it, sent off at 6-1 in a three-runner affair.

However, proving once again that he reserves his best form for the spring, Oscar Elite put in some big leaps on the way round for Harry Cobden, who can do little wrong at present, and he was too strong in the straight for the favourite, winning by seven and a half lengths.

“There’s no doubt he comes better in the spring. We fancied him going into the Coral Gold Cup but it all happened too quickly for him and they got him at it. On his day he’s got an engine,” said Tizzard.

“I saw this was going to cut-up and  thought it would give him a confidence-booster if nothing else. He was able to get in a lovely rhythm and the further he went, the more he enjoyed it.

“He looked like he was going to win the Ultima jumping the last and then he had a trapped epiglottis at Aintree. You can kind of forgive him getting his confidence back. He’ll go back to the Ultima now and then there’s the novice options at Aintree.

“He had some stiff tasks last year, we threw him in at the deep end on a number of occasions. In the future he could be a National horse.”

Betfair cut the winner to 8-1 from 16s for the Ultima next month.

Cap Du Nord clears the last on his way to victory
Cap Du Nord clears the last on his way to victory (Steven Paston/PA)

Christian Williams had made no secret that Cap Du Nord (11-2) would be fully tuned up for the LK Bennett Swinley Handicap Chase and the stable favourite duly obliged.

A seasoned campaigner, his programme almost picks itself these days but Williams decided on a change of tack this year by skipping the Coral Trophy that he won last season at Kempton in favour of this race.

Williams had been fearful he would miss the cut next week off a rating of 127 but he showed he was well capable of winning off it, bounding clear under Jack Tudor to beat Neon Moon by seven lengths.

“We think Frodon is going for the race next week which will push us out of the weights so we played our hand this week instead,” said Williams.

“It’s great to get an Ascot winner for the horse, Jack and the owners. He’s only a 125-127 rated horse but he means as much to us as a 160 horse would in another yard. He wins a big TV race for us every year.

“I bought him off a friend of mine, Pat Doyle, and as his confirmation wouldn’t be great, he wasn’t one for the sales so we bought him and it’s a great story.

“There’s no secret, every time he gets to 130 or above he cannot win a race, it’s in black and white for everyone to see. He ran well at Doncaster last time and Jack is still annoyed about not winning, so it goes to show he was unlucky that day – but he’s put it right today.”