'We never expected it' - 90-year-old owner basks in First Flow's Ascot success

Tony Solomons, the 90-year-old owner of First Flow, praised the skills of his long-time ally Kim Bailey in producing his Champion Chase hope to deliver an “incredible” performance at Ascot on Saturday.

First Flow defeated Politologue and Waiting Patiently in the Clarence House Chase to provide Solomons with a first Grade 1 winner over jumps.

“The whole thing was incredible — we never expected it,” Solomons said about the performance of the nine-year-old. “We thought he’d be able to run well but we never expected him to win so easily like he did. He certainly seems to have come to himself and the trainer’s done a fantastic job with him.”