Pic D'Orhy a surprise 33-1 winner in Betfair Hurdle filled with talking points

Owner Johnny de la Hey will not say sweet Saturday winners are like shelling peas, but he set himself up perfectly for the return of star chaser Cyrname next week by winning Newbury's most historic handicap hurdle with the well-regarded Pic D'Orhy.

The Betfair Hurdle, the richest race of its kind in Britain, tends to be a blood-and-guts affair and this was no different after the crashing last-hurdle fall of Lightly Squeeze, who brought down Harambe and Mack The Man.

Thankfully for De la Hey, his wife Samantha, trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden, 33-1 shot Pic D'Orhy was well clear of that carnage and came home in taking fashion from favourite Ciel De Neige and Remiluc, a 66-1 outsider who ran a stormer for Chris Gordon.

Pic D'Orhy was embraced warmly in the winner's enclosure by his owner, a fund manager by day but at home on the weekends watching his string strut their stuff.

A date at his local track awaits next week with Cyrname in line for the Betfair Ascot Chase, but the owner was prepared to put that on hold as he savoured victory in the £155,000 event, which Nicholls was winning for the second time after Zarkandar in 2012.

"We've kind of took this year out a bit," said De la Hey, whose five-year-old was tenth in last season's Triumph before falling at Auteuil in November and then running at Ascot three weeks ago.

"Chasing next season was always the plan, but I said we might as well have a go at some good races. We didn't think he was brilliantly handicapped today, but sometimes in these races if you've got quality you can win them.

"Harry got off and said we should go for the Champion Hurdle, but I'm not massively tempted and would be quite happy to say thanks and go chasing in the autumn.

Watch Pic D'Orhy scoop the lucrative handicap

"The aim has always been to win an Arkle or something like that and that's where we still stand today."

De la Hey, whose late father-in-law Stuart Pattermore used to train in Somerset, added: "You might think we win a lot of Saturday races, but we haven't won that many and until we won with Dolos at Sandown last weekend we hadn't won since November, although that was a lovely one with Cyrname.

"It never gets tiring and hopefully Cyrname can do the business next weekend. He's ready to go so we're looking forward to it."

Nicholls is also relishing the return of his star chaser but took great pride in bagging the afternoon's biggest prize, which is sponsored by Betfair, for whom he is an ambassador.

Pic D'Orhy: winner of the Betfair HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Of Pic D'Orhy, he said: "We really fancied him at Auteuil and he fell and had a few niggles after that. I was on the backfoot and he went to Ascot last time and travelled really well, but walked up the straight a bit.

"I rang Johnny that night and said if that was his first run of the season we'd be delighted. I don't think he gets two and a half miles at the moment, but I always thought he was a smart horse. Today is the first day everything has gone right."

Ramping up the mouth-watering prospect of a campaign over fences next season, Nicholls added: "We bought him to go chasing and he's a big horse who will be a serious chaser. He doesn't lack speed and I should have probably put him in the Champion Hurdle. If he goes up 7lb he'd be on the fringe of the weights, but he's won a big one and is for the future and we'll mind that."

Understandably so, as it is not like connections have long to wait for their next big runner.

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