'It looks like the penny is starting to drop' - Immortal Fame lands hat-trick for delighted Deborah Cole

Immortal Fame made it three wins from four starts for Deborah Cole when completing a hat-trick in the 2m4½f handicap chase.

Formerly trained by Tom Lacey, the nine-year-old travelled nicely throughout and picked up well before being eased down to win by a comfortable length from Militaire.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with that," Cole said. "He went so well throughout, had his ears pricked the whole way round and just thoroughly enjoyed himself.

"I've always been a bit worried about his jumping, but we've done a lot of schooling with him and it looks like the penny is starting to drop. We'll see what the handicapper does to us now but I think he can progress."

Victory for Immortal Fame meant that Cole drew level with last season's career-best winners tally of six.

She added: "I haven't really counted, to be honest. We're moving on with various things and hopefully getting some better horses to go to war with. You need the ammunition. Let's wait and see, but hopefully we're going from strength to strength."

Marvellous mare

Asa had no problem reverting back to hurdles when demolishing her rivals in the 3m½f mares' handicap hurdle by 27 lengths.

A winner of two of her three starts over fences this season, the six-year-old eased her way in to lead with two hurdles to go and didn't need to come off to bridle to win easily under Joe Williamson.

Palladium boost

Wolf Moon was an unconsidered 50-1 shot when chasing home €1.4 million purchase Palladium on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon last month but justified even-money favouritism here to give that rival a boost ahead of the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

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