Daryl Jacob guided Impaire Et Passe to a fine win in the Guinness 00 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick – and quickly announced he would retire from the saddle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The 41-year-old jockey was riding for his long-standing retained owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede in the Grade One feature, and enjoyed a four-length victory aboard the Willie Mullins-trained 8-13 favourite.

The success followed a testing time for Jacob, who has had a lengthy injury-enforced absence to overcome, and after adding the title to a CV that includes the Grand National with Neptune Collonges, he said his sole ride on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting would be his last.

He told Sportinglife.com: “It’s the right decision at the right time. I’ve worked very hard to get back from injury this season and I knew I had some good opportunities this Christmas, including in the Grade One.

“To ride Impaire Et Passe there to win the Grade One, it will be very difficult to beat that now and finishing at Leopardstown, where I won my first Grade One, feels right.

“I’ve always wanted to retire on my terms, riding good horses, and Impaire Et Passe has been one of our best horses. He’s very special to me.”

He added of his recent injury troubles: “I’m not going to lie, it has been a very frustrating spell for me and has been hard work. I knew I had one or two good rides coming into the Christmas period so wanted to get back for it.

“It’s been a tough road and hard work. It was a real battle at Oaksey House to get fit for this festive period and the shoulder feels good, but I can’t better this, riding a Grade 1 for Simon and Isaac.

“I have to thank my family, Simon, Isaac and Anthony Bromley and all of the medics that have looked after me. A special mention too to Robert and Sally Alner, the boss has made every career decision I ever made including to ride for Simon and Isaac.

“They were very important people that have been with me throughout my career.

“It has been wonderful. I’ve ridden a Grand National winner, now 31 Grade 1 winners, I’ve ridden over 1000 winners.

“I’ve been very lucky. I’ve battled with my weight over the years, I’m not getting any younger, I’ve had to work hard with my weight and it doesn’t get any easier.

“I’m looking forward to new opportunities, being part of the Double Green team going forward – I’ll still be an integral part of the team.”

Simon Munir paid tribute to Jacob, telling sportinglife.com: “Daryl has been like a younger brother and family to us.

“We knew that this season was going to be his last and he asked if he could end this weekend having ridden Impaire Et Passe to a Grade 1 win, which we totally get.

“Every sportsman wants to go out at their pinnacle and winning that race on one of our best horses meant an awful lot to him.

“He’s going to continue to be part of the Double Green team, riding horses in their work, representing us at the races and be very much an integral part of it all still moving forward.

“When you have a retained jockey you develop a close relationship. You speak daily about the horses and how things are going. But at the back of all of our minds is that race riding is a dangerous sport and he’s done it for an awful long time.

“He’s done a great job for us and it’s a great relief for him to end on his own terms having come back from two injuries this season.”

The brilliant Galopin Des Champs took his record to six from six over fences at Leopardstown with a repeat victory in the Savills Chase as the feature race from day three of the Christmas meeting was shown live on ITV Racing.

Beaten by stablemate Fact To File on his seasonal return in the John Durkan at Punchestown, the two-time Gold Cup hero reversed the form here and looked better the further he went, pulling away from Fact To File in second with Gentlemansgame further behind in third and Heart Wood plugging on for fourth.

Galopin Des Champs is now odds-on to secure a third successive Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph in March, with jockey Paul Townend riding his 21st top-level winner of a glittering 2024.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: “That was some performance. He put in some fantastic jumps and to win the way he did after giving the other horse a lead the whole way was one of the best performances I have ever seen around here.

“It’s frightening to think he could still be improving and hopefully he hasn’t left his whole season behind him, but what a great day and a great atmosphere with people all around the parade ring.

“He’s done it the hard way and jumped out in front today.”

Of the runner-up, he added: “Fact To File ran a little bit keen. We might change riding instructions for him in future. If he settles he can stay further. He stayed well today, but he’s come up against an exceptional horse.”

The New Lion proved himself an exceptional novice hurdling prospect with a facile success in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury for trainer Dan Skelton and brother and jockey Harry, who extended his lead at the top of the David Power Jockeys’ Cup leaderboard with Grade One success.

Still unbeaten, five-year-old The New Lion was a course winner on his previous start, building on his earlier win over timber at Chepstow.

Sent off at 9-4 for this big prize, Harry Skelton was content to watch on from midfield as outsider

Electric Mason led them, along with the strong-travelling Bill Joyce who was always in his slipstream.

Harry Cobden on Paul Nicholls’ 5-4 favourite Regent’s Stroll was a little further back and both the Ditcheat contender and The New Lion edged closer into contention as the runners moved into the straight.

However, it was the Skelton charge that the eye was drawn to as The New Lion moved up menacingly to tackle Electric Mason and Bill Joyce at the last and the exceptional youngster barely broke sweat as he cantered home under a motionless pilot.

Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo kept on past beaten horses for second under Gavin Sheehan, with Regent’s Stroll unable to enhance his trainer’s fine record in the race coming home in fourth.

 

The New Lion is set to remain over an intermediate trip for a Cheltenham Festival bid in the spring, with Paddy Power making him a 4-1 chance from 12s for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in March.

“He was very good, we’ve always liked him and hoped he would have a performance like that in him – it was just great to see,” said Skelton after landing the final British Grade One of the year and capping a stellar 2024 for his string.

“He’s done very well since winning his novice hurdle at Newbury during the Coral Gold Cup meeting and has just sharpened up a lot since then. We thought we had him better, he goes round very professionally and I just like the way he does everything really.

“At the same time of his life, My Drogo was very impressive. My Drogo was very fragile and wasn’t the easiest to train, but this horse, he is just a very unassuming horse at home with bundles of ability and you have to say he’s as good a novice hurdler that we’ve had.”

The New Lion is likely to remain over an intermediate trip for a Cheltenham Festival bid in the spring, with Paddy Power making him a 4-1 chance from 12s for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in March.

Skelton added: “I’d say we will stay at this distance, but I would have no fear in dropping back in trip. I know he sees it out well, but he isn’t a slow horse.

“I probably won’t even enter him over three miles at the Festival and we’ll take a view closer to the time, but if I was only allowed two entries it would be over two miles and two and a half rather than two and a half and three.”

Confirming the Cheltenham Festival will be next, he continued: “We’ll just have him as ready as we can for March now.”

Soul Icon enjoyed a well-deserved day in the sun with a surprise success in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park.

It has been a while between drinks for Keiran Burke’s stable star, who had picked up second place in five successive races since last tasting victory over hurdles at Fontwell in October of last year.

The seven-year-old was seemingly outclassed when last of four in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on his most recent outing and was sent off at 16-1 taking on the likes of Boothill and Edwardstone in this limited handicap.

It was a straight shootout barring accidents from halfway up the home straight, with Harry Cobden and Soul Icon challenged by Tom Cannon and Edwardstone, from whom Burke’s runner was receiving a stone and a half in weight.

That extra burden told late on as with the far rail to help, Soul Icon knuckled down on the run-in to secure top honours and his first win over fences by three and a half lengths, with 2-1 favourite Martator a further seven lengths away in third.

Cobden’s win means he now has 130 points in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup and is fourth in the overall table. Harry Skelton still leads with 156.

He told Racing TV: “It’s great to ride any winner, but especially on the big days. I get a buzz riding any horse to win in a race like this and it means so much more to those little guys because they don’t have many darts to throw at the board.

“We went very quick with two keen horses in front and I just thought we’d take a lead and follow away. He’s not a very big horse, but he’s clever and he’s got a big jump when you need it.

“Turning in I thought Edwardstone had nearly 12st and I didn’t want to be anywhere near him really. I just thought we’d stay away from an old, experienced horse as I didn’t want to help him along.

“He’s been very unlucky. Three or four times over fences it’s looked like he was going to win and something has nailed him in the last 25 yards. I think the way the race played out today, going so quick early, he hasn’t been in front too long and it’s probably helped him out.”

 

Burke, claiming his first big-race winner since saddling Hunt Ball to win at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, said: “I’m delighted as he deserved that. He’s as genuine as they come and he’s just been unfortunate to bump into one a few times.

“It was a lovely ride from Harry, perfect. It was the complete opposite of what I wanted him to do, but he knows what he’s doing and knows more than I do!

“I don’t really have any plans as he is ground dependent – we do need this better ground. We’ll see what the weather is doing and see what’s available for him.”

Sir Gino put up a scintillating display to see off Ballyburn in a much-anticipated clash for the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.

For the second time in two days, the Grade Two contest threw up a mouthwatering clash between two superstars from the powerhouse yards of Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins.

And as was the case in the Christmas Hurdle, in which Constitution Hill saw off Lossiemouth, top honours went to Seven Barrows – and in some style, too.

Sir Gino, so impressive when deputising for Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance, was the well-backed 8-13 favourite to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles under Nico de Boinville.

Ballyburn, a triple Grade One-winning novice hurdler last season and close to foot-perfect on his chasing debut at Punchestown last month, was a 7-4 chance in the hands of Paul Townend.

The big two dominated for much of the two-mile contest, with Ballyburn initially holding sway before De Boinville gave Sir Gino his head and allowed him to stride on racing down the back straight.

Ballyburn did his best to stay in the race, but Sir Gino kept coming out on top in the jumping stakes and found a gear Ballyburn simply could not live with shortly after the home turn.

Sir Gino had the race in safe-keeping provided he safely negotiated the final fence and he did just that to seal a hugely impressive seven-and-a-half-length verdict.

De Boinville said: “He was a bit sketchy over the first, but in fairness by the time we turned down the side towards the open ditch, it all clicked.

“He’s so quick back on the ground after taking off that he’s just taking lengths in the air. We knew he had the engine, it was just a case of whether he could put it all together.

“He’s got an enormous engine, but it’s amazing round here as the fences come up really fast and you have to stay and you have to be able to jump at speed and think quickly.

“I’d say he’s exceeded my expectations and I’d say he’s progressed for a fence as well.”

While Sir Gino would have been entitled to head down the Champion Hurdle route following his Fighting Fifth success, Henderson always appeared keen to pursue a chasing career.

He told Racing TV: “I must admit, a couple of months ago Charlie Morlock (assistant trainer) and myself and Nico took him out rather early one morning to have a little look of him over fences. It was in the dark and we thought we’d do it just so everybody didn’t see it, but I promise you by the time we got back, everybody had backed him for the Arkle and they hadn’t even seen it!

“He was very good, so we knew we had the option to switch, and then it became necessary to bring him into the Fighting Fifth because we weren’t ready with the boy from yesterday (Constitution Hill). He came in not as the sub, because he’s a very good horse in his own right, but if they were going to both make it down the Champion Hurdle road, one of them had to beat the other in simple terms.

“We schooled Sir Gino again over fences and he was just the same – he has so much scope. It just seemed the natural thing to do with the (four-year-old) allowance and he’s a genuine two-miler.

“If you remember his first run over hurdles here, he broke six of them! That was my fault because I hadn’t really schooled him properly, I just assumed because he’d come from France over those Auteuil hurdles, he’d jump English ones. It never occurred to me he wouldn’t know what these were and he was terrible, but we schooled him a couple of times after that and he was great.”

Betfair and Paddy Power slashed Sir Gino’s odds for the Arkle at Cheltenham to evens from 11-4 and Henderson plans to give him more match practice between now and the Festival.

He added: “He’s always had a huge amount of talent and this sort of track suits him really well because he’s got a lot of speed.

“I think he has to have another run. You could say ‘what can you teach him?’. Probably not a lot, but you’ve just got to be respecting these things because it is all a little bit too easy for him today.

“This is a lovely place to learn without getting the big tests, which you’re going to get at Sandowns, Ascots and Cheltenhams. They’re different tests and you’ve just got to have your wits about you a little bit more than you need to round here, but this is a great place to start.

“We’ve been very lucky (with two-mile chasers). Altior was brilliant, Sprinter Sacre was just phenomenal and Remittance Man in the good old days was pretty spectacular too.”

He’s a solid type with a good attitude and he stays well, having won over three miles in his last race. He won a Grade Two at Cheltenham this time of year back in 2023 so hopefully he’s got another nice Saturday race in him.

A magical Christmas  

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! Personally, it was my favourite yet, as we now have my little boy to look after.

He’s only six months old, so he wasn’t aware too much of what was going on, but he could pick up from my partner and myself that we were having a brilliant day.

In terms of the day job, it was a day off with no riding out, so we were down to mass and then straight back home to put the PJs on.

Constitution Hill  had Kempton buzzing

I had 8lb to lose before racing on Boxing Day so that was tough, but we did it, and it was great to be at Kempton.

It was probably the first time I’ve really noticed a huge crowd there for this fixture, and I can only imagine that was the Constitution Hill effect.

It was a good buzz to see a crowd coming out of that size for him, and when he passed the line in front, I thought that was just brilliant to see, racing needs superstars like him.

Saturday at Newbury: Wendigo can outrun his odds

I’m at Newbury today for the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle Day and there’s plenty of David Power Jockey Cup points up for grabs.

I’m currently sitting in seventh place, but it’s tightly packed and Charlie Deutsch is only eight points ahead of me in sixth.

My first ride of the day is on Mucuna (12.05) for Anthony Charlton. This mare’s rated 105 and shouldn’t mind the going, as she has won on good ground in the past, so we shouldn’t have a worry there.

I’ve not sat on her before, but I’ve watched back her runs and have a good indication of what she’s like. I think she might be up against it, as there’s a few nice types in this race, but we’ll give her every chance.

La Marquise (12.37) comes next in the Mares’ Hurdle for Jamie Snowden. She is a very exciting mare, and Jamie has always held her in very high regard. I’m looking forward to getting back on her and her form is working out nicely.

The horse who finished second to her on her last run, Kalium, has since come out and won twice so I’m excited by her chances.

The feature race of the day is the Challow Novices’ Hurdle, and I partner with Wendigo (2.55) in this.

The race itself seems like it’s getting better each year. There’s some nice horse in this and I think Wendigo is in good company. His owners [Racing Club] are a new syndicate, and they have a lot of members going to the course today so it will be a great buzz if we can get a result for them.

I’m not saying that he can go and win this, but I think he can outrun his odds which look far too big to me. He’s got plenty of ability, and we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

Finally, Rock My Way (3.35) contests the novices’ handicap chase and there’s more David Power Jockey Cup points on offer.

He’s a solid type with a good attitude and he stays well, having won over three miles in his last race. He won a Grade Two at Cheltenham this time of year back in 2023 so hopefully he’s got another nice Saturday race in him.

Banbridge came from the clouds to snatch the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase from Il Est Francais.

The French raider, trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, had put in a spectacular display of jumping under James Reveley and turning into straight had extended his lead back out to around 10 lengths.

However, Paul Townend on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge (7-1) was working up a real head of steam and was making ground hand over fist on the exuberant front-runner, who had been so spectacular on this card 12 months ago.

Beginning to tire, Il Est Francais got in too tight to the last, handing Banbridge a chance and when he met it on a long stride, he landed with all the momentum and went on to win by a length and three-quarters.

Illustrating the way that the race was run with Il Est Francais putting them to the sword from some way out, some very good horses simply never got involved.

The likes of Spillane’s Tower, Envoi Allen and Grey Dawning, who made an early blunder, were never at the races.

It was L’Homme Presse, having his first run of the season, who fared best of the rest in third with The Real Whacker justifying the decision to supplement him by finishing fourth for a second successive year.

O’Brien said: “It’s a special win. I’m delighted for Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) and the team. He’s been a special horse for us over the last number of years.

“To win a race like the King George is dream stuff, although I feel a bit sorry for JJ (Slevin, regular jockey who was riding in Ireland) who has a great association with the horse but wasn’t able to come and ride him today. Paul gave him a great ride. It’s a very special day.

“Kempton is a flat track and over this distance speed is emphasised more than at other places. Paul was happy to find a nice rhythm and the race panned out well for him.

 

“I actually thought Il Est Francais was gone turning for home but our horse made a sustained run all the way to the line. His resolution and stamina was tested, but he had enough for today.

“It’s really special, I grew up watching it, to have a runner is special but the winner is a dream come true.

“We’ll enjoy today, see how he pulls up and discuss plans and see what we’d all like to do.”

He added: “After Punchestown Ronnie rang me and said he’d like to have a go at the King George, we made a plan to have two runs over two miles to sharpen his jumping, we had the headgear back on and we felt he was ready to run his legs off.”

Constitution Hill returned from a year off the track to put up a brilliant display in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park.

Last seen in public producing what looked to many like just a moderate effort in a racecourse gallop at Newbury, after which he was found to be lame, Nicky Henderson once again worked miracles to bring a horse back to a peak from a lengthy absence.

His jumping was immaculate throughout and while market rival Lossiemouth struggled to go the fast gallop from an early stage, Nico de Boinville was motionless throughout and pinged the last on his way to a two-and-a-half-length victory as the 5-6 favourite.

The race was built up as a big clash between the best of England and Ireland, with Lossiemouth having had a run, winning nine of her 10 races since joining Willie Mullins and being in receipt of 7lb.

However, she never looked to be travelling with the zest of the 2023 Champion Hurdle hero, who has now regained his position at the head of the betting for this season’s renewal of the two-mile championship.

De Boinville was keen not press the button too soon and followed Burdett Road to the second-last. To Lossiemouth’s credit she stuck on and still held a glimmer of a chance at the final flight, but Constitution Hill showed all his old sparkle and in scenes reminiscent of when Desert Orchid and Kauto Star used to rule the Kempton roost, he was welcomed back to a huge reception.

De Boinville said: “There was an awful lot riding on it today but thank you to the crowd for coming out, as we felt the support.

“The great thing about my boss is he takes the pressure off, I’m in a great position riding for him and owners like Michael Buckley.

“The last couple of weeks, he really turned a corner. It was a truly-run Grade One race and I’d be looking forward to the rematch with Lossiemouth.”

“He is him and the great thing is he is back to where he belongs,” said Henderson.

“I do think he is back to what he was always capable of being and I do think he is nearly as good as he was. Nico said there is a lot of improvement to come and he had a good blow going down to the last which he was entitled to do off that gallop. That was rapid stuff.

“This had to be the day he was going to get beat and not being unfair on the runner-up but there is improvement to come, I would be fairly confident about that.

“He didn’t get tired, he just had a blow and he was entitled to be a bit rusty. His jumping was like it always has been and at one time Michael (Buckley, owner) said ‘Wow’ and I thought, ‘oh slow it down!’.

“Everybody in the jigsaw has done their part and it has been entertaining getting him back. A lot of things have been done differently and some of it has gone well and some of it has been a bit of a struggle, but the last three weeks have been very good. I’ve never seen him look better.”

He added: “That Newbury gallop wasn’t everything we were looking for, but maybe Sir Gino will come out tomorrow and show it wasn’t too bad? You never know.

“There were days when it was a struggle and that gallop maybe went in our favour as he missed a week after that and we were forced to miss the Fighting Fifth. From then we had time to get the work in and this worked.

“I’d like to see how he takes this race and I have to say we’ve had to be hard on him the last three weeks. I would love to run him again, but if he says no, then we will have to say no and go straight there (to Cheltenham).”

The trainer went on: “It’s just great to see a crowd like this today who appreciate good horses – and that is what racing is all about. He’s a bit special and horses like him hardly come around at all.

“I think Sprinter (Sacre) was a unique one and so is he. This is a horse who is so seriously talented.

“Three weeks ago, when he was working on our own grass gallops at home – he hasn’t been away since Newbury – Nico came in and said ‘we’re back’. It was as simple as that.

“You had to be nervous coming here today, you had to be. I was preparing myself for defeat and I came here ready to accept it, thinking we would be ready to beat her (Lossiemouth) at Cheltenham with normal improvement. If he can do it now, he can still come on sufficiently.

“He’s got to have a clear run, but he has never looked as good as he does and I have to say the whole team at home have been fantastic and every single one has done their little and big bits that contribute. It’s a big team effort.”

Buckley said of his three-time Christmas Hurdle king: “I’m absolutely thrilled to bits, I couldn’t be happier, that’s how I feel.

“I’ve kept faith in my trainer, of course I have, he tells me what is going on, he is a master trainer – anybody who has got a brain can work that out and he absolutely cares for his horses.

“There’s no point in running them when they are not right. It would also be disappointing for the public. Look at this place today, there’s a gigantic crowd and a large proportion of that will be due to him.

“It’s open to debate if he’s the best hurdler ever but he’s certainly the greatest I’ll ever own.”

 

Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man showed a completely different side to his game in running out a ready winner of the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.

The former football manager went through agony when seeing his pride and joy agonisingly caught at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but based on this display there are plenty of big days ahead of him over fences.

On his chasing debut at Newbury he went straight to the front and put in some exuberant leaps along the way to winning a Grade Two.

Stepped up to Grade One company and facing an extra half a mile, Ben Jones was happy to take a lead on this occasion.

Trained by Ben Pauling, the heavily-backed 4-6 favourite settled beautifully, and whether he met a fence on a long stride or a short one, his jumping was immaculate.

To Hyland’s credit he tried to make a race of it and the pace really quickened approaching the second-last, but with The Jukebox Man typically low and quick over it the race was soon over.

He jumped the final fence cleanly to ran out a two-and-a-half-length winner, giving his rider a first victory at the highest level which he celebrated emphatically as he crossed the line.

“Ben (Pauling) still feels there is improvement in him,” said Redknapp.

“He normally goes off and is ‘catch me if you can’ but Ben told Ben to sit in behind and he tracked Hyland and picked him off. He said the first time round it was just having a canter round, he was going so easy he always thought he was going to win. It’s nice.

“It’s fantastic, you come into the game to have horses to have days like this. I love it and it’s my passion and I’ve been very lucky. Ben has been a great judge and great trainer of my horses.

“He’s a lovely horse and has had sore heels all week, Ben was really worried about running him. He’s probably the best I’ve had, he’s probably better than Shakemup’Arry who won for me at Cheltenham and has great potential.

“The dream is back to Cheltenham and I was nervous. I watched every jump and holding my breath, it’s worse than football managing.”

Jones: this is what dreams are made of

A jubilant Jones said: “Absolutely buzzing and it is what dreams are made of.

“All week I’ve been like my little girl before Christmas, absolutely revved – but not for Christmas, for Boxing Day. I’m absolutely delighted and it couldn’t have gone better.

“I don’t know how good he is going to be, but he’s the best I’ve ever ridden and if he keeps on winning he keeps the dream still alive. I’ll say we will see him in March now.

“He’s very versatile, has lots of gears, a high cruising speed and also stays three miles. I would say it is one of those where we he will probably be in both (Arkle and Brown Advisory) and it will be ground dependent. It wouldn’t bother me him not running before March.”

Pauling said: “It’s a few years since I’ve won a Grade One, Willoughby Court was my last one

“It’s a huge relief and it’s been an interesting week at home working on his heels to make sure he was here in good health because he had a few sores on his heels and it hasn’t been that smooth. To get him here and get him to win, I know he can be better and it’s very exciting.

“It’s amazing for Harry and the whole team has been phenomenal. It’s been early mornings, late nights, but we’re there. Above water I’ve been a swan, but below I’ve been paddling.

“I doubt he will run again before Cheltenham and he’ll have entries in both the Arkle and Brown Advisory. If it came up heavy and he is feeling A1, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in an Arkle. I think in heavy ground when he’s A1 he could jump anything into submission.”

Fiercely Proud came out on top in a nail-biting finish with Kabral Du Mathan to win the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.

Ben Pauling has always thought plenty of the five-year-old, but he was beginning to run out of excuses.

Having finished placed in a couple of graded novice hurdles last season, he was given a handicap rating of 129 but his season started in inauspicious fashion.

On his intended first run at Cheltenham in October, his jockey’s stirrup leather broke and he ran loose, meaning he was withdrawn, then in a competitive handicap at Ascot last month, he held every chance when falling two from home.

Fiercely Proud finished a respectable sixth in the Greatwood Hurdle but Pauling will have been staggered that after three intended runs, he was rated lower than he started the season.

That meant he was still dangerously treated, though, and when the previously unbeaten Kabral Du Mathan came upsides for a battle after the last, Fiercely Proud just had that little bit extra for Kielan Woods and prevailed by a short head.

Woods had previously been Pauling’s stable jockey but he chose to keep his job as retained rider for the Megsons, who moved their horses away from Pauling last season. Woods, pictured below, has now accumulated 20 points in the Jockeys’ Cup.

The trainer has proved there are no hard feelings, however, and continues to use him.

“That’s just what we wanted. We thought he was well handicapped at the beginning of the year but we got it all wrong,” said Pauling.

“He got loose at Cheltenham, we rode him too handy here and then we had to drop him out in the Greatwood. He had so much to do in the Greatwood.

“This was a change of tactics and it worked, they went so hard and it was good to see. Two-mile handicap hurdles should be fast run, that’s what we’re here for and this year they’ve been run at such a dawdle.

“That was what we need for these horses, this horse is keen everywhere, you go a good gallop like that and he’s able to settle off it. I’m just delighted for the owners, it’s brilliant, and it’s nice for the horse to win a big one as well.”