'I've not felt so much goodwill from the public since the days of Kauto' - Paul Nicholls opens up after a win which really mattered

There are many more coveted Grade 1 prizes than the Betfair Ascot Chase, and Paul Nicholls has won most of them, but seldom has he so fervently wanted or needed a top-flight triumph. It was not a Gold Cup, Grand National or King George, yet there can be absolutely no doubt that this one really mattered.

Perhaps not since the time when Kauto Star and Denman fought for supremacy has Nicholls felt such pressure. The 14-time champion trainer is second in this season's championship table and could end up having five runners in the Randox Grand National, so this is hardly an appropriate time for tears, violins or whip-rounds, yet not since Pic D'Orhy won his first Ascot Chase had Nicholls posted a Grade 1 victory. Thankfully, there is now no need to say one of the all-time training greats has gone more than a year without success at the highest level.

To know how much this meant was to see the reaction of Nicholls' daughter Megan. The broadcaster has been in the news this week after her father revealed she would be buying more of his stable's future horses, with the yard's long-time ally Tom Malone set to be less involved. On this occasion Megan was at Ascot for ITV, whose presentation position she nipped away from in order to give her dad a hug in the winner's circle. There might just have been a tear in her eye.