The Worlds End claws back L'Ami's lead to win dramatic Marsh Hurdle

The supporting cast rose to the occasion at Ascot and provided a blockbuster finish to the Grade 1 Marsh Hurdle after headline act Paisley Park was withdrawn at the eleventh hour.

Desperately testing conditions reduced the field to four and The Worlds End battled best in the mud, rallying to win by two and three-quarter lengths from L'Ami Serge, who looked sure to win after jumping the last only to seemingly put the brakes on.

The Worlds End was adding to the Grade 1 he won at Aintree as a novice in 2017 and victory represented something of a redemption for the eight-year-old, who struggled with injuries last season and was pulled up in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

"We're delighted as he had a lot of problems in the second half of last season that we've sorted over the summer," said trainer Tom George. "I was far from confident at the last and had a horrible feeling he was going to finish second again.

"Adrian [Heskin] said he got a bit lonely in front and needed a bit of company. There was plenty left in the tank after he was headed and once I saw him pick up I knew he'd be okay."

While not ruling out a return to fences in future, George intends to keep The Worlds End over hurdles for the time being and Paddy Power duly cut the winner to 20-1 (from 25) for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

It was a tale of contrasting fortunes for the jockeys involved in the finish, with Heskin landing the third top-level success of his career.

L'Ami Serge: looked the likeliest winner at the lastCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"I know the race cut up a little bit, but this horse deserved his day in the sun and was entitled to win another Grade 1," the jockey said.

Meanwhile, it was an agonising result for connections of L'Ami Serge, who held a healthy lead at the last and hit a low of 1.03 on Betfair.

Few would have felt that heartache more keenly than Nico de Boinville, who did everything in his power to coax the leader home.

"He's gutted, as you can imagine," said trainer Nicky Henderson. "He's absolutely destroying himself – I feel for him. What can you do when the thing is running away from you? The others were all off the bridle going nowhere. What could he do?

"The horse was entitled to take a blow, he did and it caught him out at the end. I was delighted to see him back running his race and all that matters is if he's all right tomorrow."

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