Vision Des Flos strikes in National Spirit for Tizzard and Scudamore

Vision Des Flos finally gained a big-race success after a number of solid runs in defeat this season when he landed the feature contest in good style under Tom Scudamore at Fontwell.

After finishing in the top three in four of his previous five outings, including in the Kingwell Hurdle, Colin Tizzard's runner moved well throughout and settled the NetBet Casino-sponsored Grade 2 before the last before holding off favourite If The Cap Fits.

Tizzard said: "I'll leave him in the Champion Hurdle in case a few more come out but I'd think he'll go for the Coral Cup.

"Two and a half miles is fine for him, he's just been getting outpaced by the likes of Buveur D'Air and Grand Sancy last week. He's had trouble with his wind and he's run three times now in a month so should be fit for Cheltenham."

Scudamore added: "He deserved that as he's been running good races against top horses. He had only 2lb to find with If The Cap Fits and travelled well today.

"It's been a good race for the family as I've won it three times now [Lough Derg twice], and dad won it twice [Corporal Clinger and Honest Word] as well."

Runner-up If The Cap Fits will head to the Aintree Hurdle next, with trainer Harry Fry attributing a rather out-of-character performance – he was never really travelling that well before staying on – to having had to give the seven-year-old a flu jab during the recent shutdown due to the equine flu outbreak.

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