Ascot Saturday reports, reaction and free video replays

More Silver gold for Victtorino

It was another super Saturday for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch as Victtorino recorded back-to-back victories in the Howden Silver Cup.

Seven days on from Gemirande's success in the Nyetimber December Gold Cup, his stablemate pulled another valuable prize out of the bag.

Given a patient ride, he was brought through to challenge the freewheeling runner-up The Changing Man (10/3) down the home straight.

However that rival fought tenaciously and it was only in the dying strides that it was clear the winner had his measure, Victtorino going on to win by half-a-length.

The winning rider told ITV Racing: "I'm really pleased for this horse. I was so frustrated after the Hennessy run where he ran so well but just missed a few fences. From the get-go today he's jumped really well.

"We just missed the second last but he was tough from then on. I was amazed by how tough the Tizzard horse was though, because I felt I had horse underneath me but when I got to him he's pulled out a lot more.

"My main concern today was to get him jumping and keep his confidence up throughout the race. When he does get jumping he can really make up ground and it's worked out today."

Williams added: "We had to wait for it didn't we? I thought halfway up the run-in we weren't going to get there and all credit to the second horse.

"I thought it was a fantastic ride. The important thing was that he jumped better today. As soon as he jumped the first, which he met a little long but came up, then we both thought then we're in business. His jumping so much better and that was key.

"Charlie was keen not to put the gun to his head and disrupt the jumping that had got into a nice rhythm. If that had fallen apart, everything would have fallen apart."

Proud moment for Pauling

Fiercely Proud (12/1) edged out Kabral Du Matham (17/2) after a pulsating battle for the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.

A 16/1 selection for Matt Brocklebank in his Value Bet column, the Ben Pauling-trained winner was locked in duel with the runner-up from before the last.

They had the race between them from there but at the line only a short-head separated them with fully 17 lengths back to Be Aware in third.

Pauling told ITV Racing: "It was a complete change of tactics. He's an extraordinary horse. Early in the season you have to hold him up and we didn't, we got it wrong, and it's been a bit of a stop-start season for him.

"It was a brave performance. He's bred for the Flat being by Iffraaj and they're not renowned for wanting this ground and I was pleased to see him battle. He needed that. We thought he was well handicapped but he's got to win it at the same time."

Boogie provides Ascot first for de Bromhead

Jungle Boogie led home an Irish one-two-three in the Howden Graduation Chase.

There was early drama with the well-backed favourite and sole British hope Iroko falling at the first. By then the 7/2 winner was already in front under Darragh O’Keeffe and was never headed from that point.

Providing Henry de Bromhead with a first winner over jumps at Ascot, the ten-year-old was never in any danger despite jumping markedly to his left.

From the home turn he had his two rivals in trouble, James Du Berlais finishing last after racing too keenly under Daryl Jacob.

Fil D’Or came through for second but was eight length adrift of Jungle Boogie at the line.

The winning rider told ITV Racing: “He’s ten now and has had his problems but he’s a very, very good horse. Iroko went early on and my horse was straight over the first couple of fences but then the loose horse disappeared in front of him he was opting to go let a bit.

“He jumped and travelled really well and was good and quick over the last two fences as well. He’s a horse that’s not short of pace, when he heard the others coming around Swinley Bottom he really locked on and last year on his first run for Henry he ran in the Hilly Way and ran a blinder. He’s a horse that has plenty of class about him.”

Betfair and Paddy Power introduced Jungle Boogie into their Ryanair Chase market at 25/1.

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