'All-out punt' pays off for Dan Skelton as Kykorock proves his stamina with victory in £50,000 chase

Dan Skelton described Kykorock’s participation in the £50,000 novice handicap chase as “an all-out punt”, but it paid off when the bottomweight proved his stamina over three miles.

The Rachel Wilson-owned six-year-old won his first two starts over fences but was beaten over two miles and half a furlong when third at Haydock in January.

Stepping up almost a mile in trip, Harry Skelton gave the son of Ballingarry a patient ride and he found enough in reserve to beat As The Fella Says by three-quarters of a length.

Skelton said: “It was an all-out punt as to whether he would stay the trip but the race was worth £50,000 and we had nothing else to run in it.

“He’s been progressive over fences and it was obvious when he was beaten at Haydock that he wanted a trip. It might have been he wanted two and a half miles but he’s got away with three miles – that was lovely.”

The Charlie Todd-ridden Jasmin De Cotte landed a double for Skelton when capitalising on the second-last exit of Kelijoe to win the 2m4f handicap chase by 34 lengths.

Todd said: "It was an eventful race to say the least. I thought the one in front was home and hosed, so I wanted to just get mine from A to B. He jumped better today and we were able to pick up the pieces."

Sassipants sealed a treble for Dan Skelton in the concluding 2m mares' bumper.

Arch aces it

Wellington Arch went one better than last year when winning the 2m4f handicap hurdle under Jonjo O’Neill Jr.

It continued a fine week for the O’Neill camp after the joint-trainers scored twice at the Cheltenham Festival with Johnnywho in the Ultima and Wilful in the County Hurdle.

The son of Blue Bresil arrived on the back of a runner-up effort in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury and scored by a length and a quarter.

Wellington Arch (left): clears the last under Jonjo O'Neill JrCredit: John Grossick Racing

AJ O’Neill said: “I’m delighted with him. He probably didn’t jump quite as well as he maybe could have done but Jonjo did a great job taking him back and it suited him really well. He seems to be improving a little bit with age.”

Wellington Arch landed a Grade 3 handicap hurdle over two and a half miles at Aintree's Grand National meeting following his second last year and connections are planning a repeat bid.

Bay bosses it

Emma Lavelle's Doughmore Bay gained a deserved nice pot in the 2m7½f handicap hurdle worth £75,000.

The Mighty Acorn Stables-owned eight-year-old finished a half-length second at Windsor’s Winter Million meeting and secured a first win since his rules debut in 2023 by a length under Ben Jones.

Doughmore Bay: fended off A Pai De Nom in the closing stagesCredit: John Grossick Racing

The jockey said: “Doughmore Bay didn't take to fences at Cheltenham earlier in the season, which was strange as he jumps really well at home. Now his confidence is up again we could give it another go.

“He's been destined to win a nice race. The slower ground and more steady gallop helps him warm into it.”

Jones secured a double on the Ben Pauling-trained Dig Deep, who won the 2m4f novice hurdle by six lengths.

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