Delight for David Dennis as he saddles first winner since return to training

It did not take David Dennis long to return to the winners’ enclosure after returning to the training ranks as Flying Verse, only his second runner from his new Edgcote base, landed the 3m handicap chase.

Dennis, who had spells with Tom Symonds and Matt Shepherd after putting his solo training career on hold last March, was pleased to get off the mark so soon into the second spell of his training career.

He said: "It was a great effort. He was second in the Norfolk National in May so I said to Brian [Hughes] to race as prominently as you like because he clearly stays further than three miles. He's won at the track before and dropped to a nice handy mark – he did it well.

"His owner Chris Barnett is on holiday in Devon. He would have liked to have come up but he’s been on the phone and is very happy."

Dennis said the shared gallops with Ben Case and Alex Hales offered the perfect environment to resume his training career, and added: "That’s what won me over, the facilities. It’s a little bit far out for a few of my owners but I feel like it’s worth the distance."

Pencreek prevails

Ben Pauling’s superb summer form continued as Pencreek, who was third behind Dusart and Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory in a novice hurdle last November, comfortably carried top weight and won the 2m½f handicap hurdle by eight lengths under Luca Morgan.

Results, replays and analysis

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