Royal Pagaille prevails over Bravemansgame to record career-best win in Betfair Chase

Venetia Williams is not one to blow her own trumpet, or even a mini piccolo, but you could tell she was pleased with a job well done as Royale Pagaille returned in triumph.

The Betfair Chase had been billed beforehand as a two-horse race, with Bravemansgame and Protektorat plastered on the front page of a Racing Post that proclaimed the "Battle of Britain".

That would no doubt have suited Williams, who spent too long with John Edwards – a master trainer who would never have cut it in advertising – to enjoy talking up her horses before a big race.

She is happy to let them speak for her and she knew Royale Pagaille was in the shape to make a very loud noise, on a track where he had won three times from four visits.

That is now four from five as the dual Peter Marsh Chase winner upstaged the cover stars. Having taken up the running fully seven fences from home under Charlie Deutsch, he faced a strong challenge from Bravemansgame in the straight yet he would not let the King George VI Chase winner through and was actually drawing clear again as he passed the post six and a half lengths to the good.

It was Williams' tenth victory in the last fortnight and she said: "I'm absolutely thrilled, over the moon. I was full of hope but you're never confident. The fact our horses are running so well does give you a lot of hope.

"He jumped very well. If you'd seen him school on Thursday you wouldn't have imagined he would have but that's him. At home he's not switched on but once he gets to the races he is."

Royale Pagaille: beat Bravemansgame to the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Royale Pagaille had not been entirely switched on early in the 3m contest and Deutsch said: "He was quite relaxed early and I was a little bit worried but I pulled him out wide down the back straight and he took hold of the bit. I thought I'd keep him rolling because I know he stays.

"I was waiting for the big beasts to come from behind and take me but luckily we held them off. He's a brilliant horse and I'm so glad he's got his Grade 1.

"It was a really special performance. He jumped really well, he travelled well and I knew he'd stay. It was whether Bravemansgame was going to have more pace but luckily we held him off."

Bravemansgame will be taking him on again at Kempton, where Royale Pagaille was presented with second place after L'Homme Presse fell at the last fence in 2022.

"We've got to go for the King George," Williams said. "He was second last year obviously by default, but at the same time Jerry Roberts, who rides him all the time and travels with our horses every day, has been telling me he's in better form this year than last year. I'm pretty sure that's where he'll end up."

But having been denied a seventh Betfair Chase, Nicholls is keen for a rematch and a crack at landing a 14th King George on Boxing Day.

The 8-11 favourite, who was also beaten at odds-on in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, heads to Kempton and his trainer said: "He was not good enough on the day, it's as simple as that. No excuses. He jumped well and travelled well. I thought he was going to win going to four out and he didn't quite pick up.

"We'll get him fresh for Kempton, that probably suits him better, it's an easier three miles. The other horse outstayed him. He's run a good race but Kempton's his track.

"It won't do him any harm to have a few runs. You can wrap them up too much in cotton wool. Sometimes they want a few races to harden them up a bit. He's run well and he'll run well at Kempton."

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