Finally for Singlefarmpayment as veteran records first win since December 2016

Singlefarmpayment ended a long winless drought which stretched over four years with a battling victory in the veterans' handicap chase.

The 11-year-old, now trained by Henry Oliver after leaving Tom George's yard last year, shrugged off the challenge of Crosspark for a two-and-three-quarter-length victory under Adrian Heskin, who was also on board for his last success in a novice chase at Cheltenham in December 2016.

The winning rider said: "That's a weight off my shoulders! I've got a lot of history with that horse. There have been many lads who have tried on him – the best of them have tried – and to say he's tricky is an understatement.

"I'm delighted for the horse and his owner Heather Haddock that he's won today. He wants to be played late and I took it on two out when I'd have been better off being a length down going to the last, but the horse stuck his head down until the end."

Superb Sacre

Defi Sacre, formerly a prolific performer at two miles, appears to have rediscovered his rhythm at a new trip as he took the step up to two miles five furlongs in his stride to score impressively for trainer Richard Hobson.

The eight-year-old, ridden by James Best, travelled strongly and saw out every inch of the trip ahead of Marracudja, with Hobson saying afterwards: "I've always wanted to step him up but we wanted to wait for the better ground and he's done it nicely.

Defi Sacre (James Best) sees of Marracudja to win the 2m5f handicap chase

"He looked a million dollars in the paddock and it's onwards and upwards now that we know he stays. He might even get three miles one day, and we'll maybe go to Perth or Ayr with him next."

Fifty up for Williams

Venetia Williams reached a half-century of winners for the season for the first time since 2016 when Funambule Sivola, who has risen 29lb with the handicapper since November, dominated his two rivals in the 2m1f novice handicap chase.

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