Defi Du Seuil powers to victory in Ascot’s Clarence House Chase

Defi Du Seuil was a very classy winner of the Clarence House Chase, confirming himself as the best British chaser over two miles this season. Philip Hobbs’s star cruised along for much of the race and settled it by quickening clear of Un De Sceaux soon after the second-last.

Having shot clear, the 11-10 joint-favourite eased down on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths under Barry Geraghty. Un De Sceaux had been just a neck behind him in last month’s Tingle Creek and as a triple winner of the Clarence House was expected to make another close race of it. But, at the age of 12, he may not be quite the force of old.

At Haydock, Ballyandy prevailed in a driving finish for the Champion Hurdle Trial after Pentland Hills appeared to have the race won. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner, Pentland Hills was once more very free in the early stages and perhaps it cost him as he found very little after going past Cornerstone Boy on the run-in and was collared in the shadow of the post by the strong-finishing Ballyandy.

Even after the line had been crossed, many believed that Pentland Hills had prevailed. He remains a mix of 7-1 and 8-1 for the Champion Hurdle in March, while Ballyandy was cut as short as 14-1 for the race by some firms.

Ayr 12.40 Zambezi Fix 1.15 Escaria Ten 1.50 Glinger Flame (nb) 2.25 Donna’s Delight 3.00 Aloomomo 3.30 Longtimesincejaspr
4.00 Sporty Yankee

Wolverhampton 12.50 Nelson River (nap) 1.25 Mojambo 2.00 Prompting 2.35 Ahundrednotout 3.10 Boom The Groom 3.40 Murqaab 4.10 Henry Croft

Full report to follow