NICKY Henderson’s runners may have made little impression in the Ascot Chase but the Seven Barrows trainer enjoyed a successful day otherwise as 9/2 chance Vyta Du Roc took the Grade 2 Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase and Different Gravey, 5/1, followed up in the Les Ambassadeurs Casino Handicap Hurdle.

Vyta Du Roc is only seven and stayed three miles in testing ground really well after being tapped for speed at Doncaster last time. Patiently ridden by Daryl Jacob, he challenged between the last two and a particularly good leap at the last accounted for Le Mercurey.

He then kept on stoutly as Minella Rocco made ground steadily all the way up the straight to close to within half a length at the line.

The winner is clearly going the right way and the RSA Chase was mentioned afterwards but Henderson will keep his options open.

“Cheltenham is going to be a stiffer test of stamina than today but Daryl said that he definitely stays,” the trainer said. “He’d get the trip in the four-miler, too, and I just like the way he jumps and tackles the whole thing. He does hit a flat spot in the middle of a race but he also did that over hurdles and was still good enough to finish fourth in a Neptune.”

A.P. McCoy, representing J.P. McManus, was much happier with Minella Rocco this time but Ben Pauling was puzzled by 7/4 favourite Drumacoo’s disappointing fourth and is convinced the horse is far better than he showed here.

They went too fast in the handicap hurdle and Nico de Boinville, more than happy to sit in the chasing group, waited until two out before sending Different Gravey about his business and scoring by 16 lengths from Fingertips.

This was an eye-catching performance under 11st 12lb and probably means the winner’s handicapping days are over.

Whether or not he tackles top hurdling company before the season’s end, he has the make and shape to make a fine chaser.