'I thought I'd nick a few lengths'

An inspired ride from Harry Cobden seals victory in Ascot's Grade One in a week where he also takes the lead in the jockeys' championship

- JENNIFER DONALD

Ascot Racecourse, Berks

HARRY COBDEN served up a championship-worthy riding performance, taking the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase by the scruff of the neck, to seal victory on the Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D’Orhy in the final top-level contest before the Cheltenham Festival.

Cobden, who now leads the jump jockeys’ title race (see box, below), confidently urged the De la Heys’ nine-year-old son of Turgeon into an early, unassailable lead and the jockey relayed afterwards that he knew he had the race won as early as the second fence.

The duo were propelled further by some soaring leaps over Ascot’s formidable birch and with an eye-catching turn of foot over the gelding’s preferred 2m 5f, they dictated throughout, extending their advantage to win by 5½ lengths with the thrilled jockey punching the air.

Their nearest rival was the Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse (Charlie Deutsch), still on the comeback trail after 13 months on the sidelines and who never actually challenged the leader. However, the gelding will be far better suited in the longer Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup next month, for which he is fifth favourite behind market leader Galopin Des Champs.

The also Cheltenham-bound Ahoy Senor finished third for trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox, ahead of Sail Away for Dan and Harry Skelton, who collected a valuable £9,327 in fourth.