Pic D'Orhy seals back-to-back wins in Ascot Chase
Pic D'Orhy won the Ascot Chase for the second successive year, outclassing Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders Corbetts Cross and L'Homme Presse in the process. L'Homme Presse was pulled up by jockey Charlie Deutsch midway through the race following a poor jumping display, while 7-4 favourite Corbetts Cross trailed home by 10 lengths in second place, just fending off Blue Lord in third. It was a first Grade One victory in 12 months for trainer Paul Nicholls and came a year after Pic D'Orhy's last victory in the race."I would say this was a career-best performance - he loves it here," said Nicholls, who reiterated his horse would not be competing at next month's Cheltenham Festival.
Jockey Harry Cobden, who was equally pleased to return to the winners' circle on the 9-5 chance, said he always felt in control of the race after making the running from the opening fence."He's a great horse we've had so many good days. I really enjoyed that, this is massive," he told ITV Sport."I looked at the big screen halfway round and I knew all I had to do was stay in the saddle." Elsewhere, Famous Bridge produced an eye-catching display to win the Grand National Trial at Haydock, landing neck and neck at the last with 11-4 favourite Apple Away, before powering home to win by two lengths.Welsh National winner Val Dancer was leading, but fell away badly between the final two obstacles. At Wincanton, 6-5 favourite Golden Ace beat Burdett Road by three-quarters of a length to win the Kingwell Hurdle.Jeremy Scott's seven-year-old beat Brighterdaysahead in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival but failed to reproduce that form in her first two outings this term.She returned to winning ways on Saturday, though, after being dropped back down in distance to two miles for this Grade Two contest.
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