THE other Grade 2 contest on the card, the Christy 1965 Chase over two miles and five furlongs, went to Henderson’s Top Notch, who was in front some way from home and went on to beat Double Shuffle by eight lengths, with Frodon third. The winner started at 5/2 joint-favourite with the hardy Smad Place but soon left him behind when the race started in earnest.

Henderson had given long-term Ryanair hope Top Notch ‘a livener’ over hurdles at Aintree, where he finished last of three. He was an entirely different proposition here and took his Ascot record to three out of three.