Royale Pagaille headlines 77-1 treble for unstoppable Venetia Williams in Betfair Chase

The Haydock people specializer gave proprietor Rich Ricci his 100th Grade One by battling past Grey Dawning. Wins for Fontaine Collonges and Martator made successful an fantabulous day for Herefordshire handler Williams

King of Haydock Royal Pagaille grittily held onto his Betfair Chase crown for unstoppable trainer Venetia Williams.

The people specializer battled backmost to thwart favourite Grey Dawning, header a 77-1 unchangeable treble and manus proprietor Rich Ricci his 100th Grade One win.

Ned Fox-ridden Martator (13-8f) rapidly made it 2 for the time successful Ascot's Lay and Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase.

Then Royale Pagaille's jockey Charlie Deutsch rounded it disconnected - wrong an hr - with 7-1 accidental Fontaine Collonges connected muddy Merseyside.

Williams' lone runners yesterday came location archetypal successful races with a combined prize money worth of much than £350,000.

"It's beauteous damn good, each successful astir 40 minutes!" the Herefordshire handler said.

"I'm precise arrogant of Royale Pagaille, Charlie and each the team. It was unbelievable due to the fact that the equine was beaten wasn’t he?

"I knew successful the summertime that Rich wasn’t acold disconnected 100 and it was mentioned it would beryllium alternatively amusing if it occurred here!"

Eleven-time apical formation leader Faugheen and his 2016 Champion Hurdle successor Annie Power are conscionable 2 of Ricci's all-time greats.

The latest triumph successful silks his woman Susannah based connected her favourite handbag truly moved the big-money banker, who prefers to perceive to contention commentaries implicit watching.

He heard ITV's Richard Hoiles denote mud-splattered Grey Dawning arsenic the likeliest large contention leader erstwhile helium jumped the past obstruction successful front.

But a mistake sapped his vigor levels and Royal Pagaille (11-4) rallied bravely for Haydock triumph fig five, with Bravemansgame placed again successful third.

"A batch of the horses we person had person been incredibly talented," Ricci said. "Royale Pagaille is benignant of a journeyman and I similar the underdog. He tries hard and that’s important to me.

“You tin marque arsenic overmuch wealth arsenic you want, but you can’t bargain thrills, happiness and emotion that this athletics brings."

Bookmakers pushed Grey Dawning retired to 16-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup aft his two-length defeat.

"I person got nary complaints," said trainer Dan Skelton. "He didn't rather enactment the travel successful those conditions. That's athletics - sometimes you get beat."