Ascot Saturday

THE main talking point of Ascot’s card on Saturday was the controversial finish of the Byrne Group Handicap Chase, but I’ll save the fall-out for elsewhere, and focus on the form. Diego Du Charmil (13/2) wasn’t the first to look for the exit in the closing stages at Ascot and his errant behaviour clearly caused a knock-on effect of major proportions, but he hung on to win from Clondaw Castle and Champagne At Tara after all-but running out, and was correctly allowed to keep the race. Lorcan Williams has been seen to good effect on Nicholls runners since starting out under rules riding hunter chasers, and he was powerless to prevent the last-fence debacle.