I love an underdog

The arrival of the winter mud brings with it a Venetia Williams hat-trick, but the day belongs to a warrior gelding, who never stops trying”

- JENNIFER DONALD

Haydock Park, Merseyside

WITH a gritty display of tenacity, Royale Pagaille joined the greats of the sport as a back-to-back winner of the Betfair Chase. As the heavens opened on the eve of the first Grade One contest of the season, the money piled in for the Venetia Williams runner and punters were rewarded.

But victory under Charlie Deutsch didn’t come without a fight, as the equally gallant Grey Dawning – a Festival winner for the Skeltons in March, who was stepping out of novice company for the first time – had surged to the front in the home straight, setting up an epic battle for the line.

However, a scrappier jump at the last meant the pendulum of momentum swung back in favour of Grey Dawning’s more experienced counterpart, the 10-year-old mud-loving Royale Pagaille, who knuckled down gamely to win the 3m 1½f race by two lengths.