'I'd finished everywhere but first on him' - Ben Macey finally gets a win on Royal Rhythm who continues revival

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When Royal Rhythm won at Worcester last month it ended a 31-month losing run, but he showed there would be no repeat of that wait by following up in the 2m5½f handicap hurdle.

Ridden by Ben Macey, the pair came out on top of a drama-filled finish and defied a market drift to score by a length and a half at 3-1.

Having made the running, Royal Rhythm lost the lead before the penultimate hurdle, where County Champs fell and left the well-backed Atreides clear. However, Atreides began hanging under pressure and Royal Rhythm rallied to regain the lead close home.

Macey said: "I was very happy early on. I just wanted to make sure it was a good gallop because he's not the quickest in the world.

"We got a little bit outpaced turning in, but I felt we'd stay strong and I thought they'd got racing early enough. The faller made it a bit easier to pick up the pieces."

It was the 11th time Macey had ridden the Jonjo and AJ O'Neill-trained veteran, but his first winner after three previous second-place finishes.

He said: "I've ridden him plenty of times and I think I've finished everywhere but first on him, so it was nice to get him over the line. It had been a while since he'd won, so hopefully he's enjoying the game again."

Double for Knight

Motazzen demonstrated his love for Fontwell once again when the dual-purpose eight-year-old won the 2m3f handicap hurdle for his fourth success at the track.

That completed a double for Henrietta Knight and Brendan Powell who earlier teamed up with the evens favourite Moab in the 2m3f maiden hurdle.

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