LIKE every true Champ, Nicky Henderson’s mercurial nine-year-old put the disappointments of last season behind him with a victory in the Long Walk Hurdle, handing pilot Jonjo O’Neil jnr his first Grade 1 triumph in the process.

The feature hurdle turned out to be as much of a test of speed as stamina with the Betfair Exchange Trophy emerging as the fastest time of the day over hurdles as Tritonic (150) again demonstrated his liking for the Berkshire venue with a strong staying performance at the minimum distance over hurdles.

There was no need for a stopwatch to identify how frenetic the early pace was in the concluding handicap as Goshen (132), Global Citizen, No Ordinary Joe and Llandinabo Lad (133) headed to the first flight like it was a race to the winning post without covering a circuit.

There was no let-up in the pace either as joining the hurdle races together from the first flight jumped in the handicap depicts.

Global Citizen reached the first hurdle on the circuit 5.3 seconds or 26 lengths ahead of Ronald Pump (130), who led the Long Walk field and in turn reached the landmark 17 lengths in advance of the leaders in the opening novices’ handicap hurdle.

There was little difference in pace through the middle stages of the final circuit when comparing the two higher-profile races, although the gap grew to the novice handicap illustrating a lift in pace in the Grade 1 from around the sixth last hurdle.

Champ (148+) covered the ground from the fourth last hurdle in 83.3 seconds winning with more authority than the final margin suggests as he pulled clear of Thyme Hill (146) in the last 100 yards.

Tritonic in comparison took 85.5 seconds to cover the concluding section with the gap in the shortened race shrinking to 14 lengths at the line.

Ardhill

The finishing effort of Ardhill (118+) makes interesting reading as the Gordon Elliott-trained Irish raider was almost the equal of Champ in the closing stages stopping the clock at 83.5 seconds for the sectional.

The son of Shantou would have crossed the line 30 lengths behind Champ in the same shortened race although, given his handicap rating going into Saturday’s race was 50lb inferior to his more illustrious counterpart, the six-year-old will remain extremely well-handicapped even when considering the rise in the weights which is no doubt heading his way.

All three chase winners on the card are worth noting for future engagements with Palmers Hill (138+) appealing the most despite the ease with which L’Homme Presse (140+) won his contest. Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding edged the split-screen comparison when viewed from as early as the second fence in his race crossing the line, nine lengths in advance of the Venetia Williams-trained winner.

There was nothing to choose between their respective finishing efforts, which L’Homme Presse (88.4) edged despite being eased after the final fence.

Palmers Hill (88.8) was slightly slower although, judged by the way the eight-year-old powered clear of his field, he would have run faster had he been asked for his effort earlier.

Annsam (140) posted a closing sectional of 90.8 seconds and would have been around 25 lengths adrift in the reduced race although the overall race time portrays the pace was strong from flag fall, so he deserves credit for resolution.

JONBON (137+) was the star attraction on last Friday’s Ascot card as he put his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle credentials on the line in the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle.

Unfortunately, like previously at Newbury, the pedestrian early stages of the race deprived time students of measuring his ability with an overall time-figure that his closing sectional combined with visual impression arguably deserved.

The son of Walk In The Park posted the fastest closing sectional as he covered the ground from the fourth last hurdle in 79.9 seconds to turn around an early deficit with Party Business (130) (83.3) on a split-screen view, the gap at the line being seven lengths in favour of Nicky Henderson’s gelding.

The closing bumper won by Henri The Second (140+) (83.9) looks an above average contest as Paul Nicholls’s four-year-old clocked the best time figure of the day and covered the final six furlongs only marginally slower than Jonbon (83.6) according to the sectionals.