Ascot Saturday reports, reaction and free video replays

He was ready for his life

Viroflay (3/1) provided young amateur Lucas Murphy with a day to remember in the Sodexo Live! Regal Encore Handicap Chase.

Murphy's father, Timmy, rode the winner of this race in 2007 as well as enjoying plenty of success for Paul Nicholls and the Ditcheat trainer has already gone on record praising the young jockey who has made a big impression during a short time in the saddle.

Very few got into the near three mile contest with Viroflay and eventual third Tapley in the front four throughout.

Tapley took up the running after the fifth last but there was little to choose between him and Viroflay at the next two fences, Murphy's mount was in front again at the second last as the petrol taps turned to empty for Tapley.

Your Darling came through from off the pace and looked a threat going to the last but wasn't as fluent as the consistent winner who landed running, going on to score by three parts of a length.

Nicholls told Sky Sports Racing: "I never thought he'd win a nice race like this but today was the day, he was ready for his life today.

"I inherited him from the Stewart family who have been wonderful all the way along the line. He was for Olive [Nicholls, daughter] to point-to-point, he did that for two years and won two Coronation Cups but he keeps getting leg problems.

"Olive rode him the last two years and, I don't know why, but he just kept improving; then Olive retired and I thought what a horse for Lucas to get some experience on for the season and take 7 [lb] off. Lucas has got plenty to learn and he'll have learned a lot from that because he's not the easiest to ride.

"Timmy rode us a lot of winners and Olive and the girls have been riding with Lucas [in pony races]. He's a talented young man, he's still at school but if he can get some experience, he's going to go a long way."

It was a first chase winner under Rules for the teenage jockey who said: "I was just saying to Paul, even I didn't see some of the strides he took.

"He's a gutsy horse and he likes going from the front and he likes doing it his way, I'm just the person who gets to sit on top of him. The horse has done well today."

Faith in Trust rewarded

Trustintimes (11/4 favourite) ran out a ready winner of the Lavazza Handicap Hurdle to continue Harry Fry's good start to the season.

A course and distance winner 11 months ago, the second half of Trustintimes season tailed off but he returned to action close to his best, much as the market indicated he would.

Produced to challenge in the straight, Trustintimes was hardpressed by last year's placed horses - Indemnity and Moveit Like Minnie - but ultimately proved too strong for his rivals, keeping on to win by a length and a quarter.

Fry said: "Fantastic to see Trustintimes win like that. We gave him a run on the flat to put him spot on for this and it's nice when plans work out like that.

"He was progressive last year, ran well at Christmas and then we didn't have much luck with him the second half of the season, just had a hold-up and forget his run at Aintree in the spring. He's only five and hopefully he can continue to progress."

Jockey Bryan Carver added: "There was the disappointment of Boothill earlier and it was nice to be able to repay his owners.

"He's the sort of horse who would almost go under the radar but his attitude is to die for, he's a gentleman to deal with. His jumping was very good today, he found himself in a nice pocket early in the race, was probably in top gear for a lot of the race but after he jumped the last he stuck his head down nicely and hit the line strongly.

"Boothill travelled back fine [after being kicked], he was sound and hopefully we'll try and find a race for him in the next few weeks."

Van takes chequered flag

Vanderpoel (4/1 joint-favourite) ended a lean spell for trainer Ben Pauling with a ready two length success in the Sodexo Live! Handicap Chase.

Vanderpoel enjoyed a good first season over fences, winning twice and finishing seventh in the Grand Annual - won by runner-up Martator - on his final start in March.

Returning to a racecourse for the first time since, he gave Callum Pritchard a good spin with the pair opening up a clear lead off the home turn and never looking in any danger thereafter.

Pauling said: "It was perfect. I told Callum to stop worrying about them taking a blow and ride them like they're fit because what we've been doing for the last 10 days is holding onto them, then they take their blow and the race is gone and by the time they get their second wind, they're not going to catch them.

"He took a good blow going to two out so hopefully he will improve again; he gave him a lovely ride.

"He loves decent ground, he'll stay further and he's got an exciting season ahead of him."

Ghost past the post

The Gray Ghost (7/2) built on a promising debut over fences to win the Ascot Underwriting Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

His Uttoxeter form had been franked by third home O'Moore Park and The Gray Ghost gave the race another boost with a smooth performance under Charlie Price.

He reeled in Glynn Brae down the back straight but the remainder had closed by the time The Gray Ghost took the turn for home. Jet To Vegas, 13/8 favourite, loomed large in his wing mirrors approaching the last but was far less fluent than his rival, losing any chance that remained.

The winning margin was two and three quarter lengths.

Wiltshire based trainer Robbie Llewellyn said: "He was supposed to be going to Aintree last Sunday and that got abandoned; then we were looking at entries on Monday and we were going to go to Wetherby but when the declarations were coming in we said we've got to go to Ascot.

"Unfortunately none of his owners are here because they're all Scottish and couldn't get down but it's been a great bit of fun for them. He jumped really well first run for us and I thought if he kicked forward for that he'd have a nice little race in him.

"He's travelled into the races really well a few times but just hasn't got through the line; I think a fence has got him to respect a bit, sometimes he'd gallop through a hurdle and lose momentum. Today he's jumped like a bunny and it's great.

"We might come back here Christmas but he's a horse that needs racing, he's a bit of a wire head, so we'll keep running him."

Quirky Mogul makes headlines

Tom Dascombe enjoyed a fine campaign with Hot Fuss last season and has another promising hurdler to go to war with in Media Mogul (9/4 favourite) who stuck on well to win the Grundon Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Held-up early by David Bass, Media Mogul moved through the field to take up a prominent position at the top of the home straight, leading after the second last and always doing enough to hold the challenge of the strong-travelling Lord Chamberlain and Mr Rafiki with the latter claiming minor honours by a nose.

"He's got loads of ability," Bass said.

"He was very quirky at Worcester, he likes to plant, and he knew where the stables were down the back straight; much better start today but he still just thinks about it. He should have won at Worcester really and we were confident if he came forward from that, he would have a good winning chance.

"I wasn't worried where I was sat because he's got a bit of pace and I knew he could pick up. Another good training performance from Tom, I'm trying to persuade him to have more jumpers!"

First class delivery

Babs (11/4) completed her hat-trick in the 1st Class Logistics Novices' Hurdle, beating No Way Jay by almost five lengths under Kielan Woods.

Trainer Henry Oliver said: "She's been very progressive, she's quite a highly strung filly so she gets herself there so it's just keeping her chilled and doing everything right for her.

"The owners have been very patient and we ran her on deep ground a couple of times when she wasn't ready for that at this stage of her career but potentially she's a very nice filly.

"Kielan is a very nice horseman and doesn't move too much on her and he knows how to ride her on a track like today, you can drop her in. At Newton Abbot he had to ride her closer on a sharper track and I think it suits her better being ridden like this.

"At home she's been in really good nick, she tells you when she's in good form and tells you when she's flat. She's been an absolute gem and the owners named her after their grandmother, Sue, so it's worked out well for them."

There was an exciting finish to the Ascot Colts And Fillies' Club Open NH Flat Race with Sam Twiston-Davies getting a good tune out of the Warren Greatrex trained 2/1 favourite Saint Argente who finished powerfully to win by a length and a quarter.

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