No stopping Martator progression on Ascot return

Martator picked up where he left off in the spring when quickening up after the final fence to land the £100,000 Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot for Venetia Williams.

The seven-year-old signed off last season with a hat-trick of wins at Newbury, this course and Sandown to establish himself as a highly-progressive sort.

With Charlie Deutsch again in the saddle, Martator continued on an upward curve by storming home to beat Issar D’Airy by a length and three-quarters at 6-1.

Williams told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s one of the few horses that I’m happy enough to run on this sort of ground.

“He’s a small horse and is usually the smallest in any race he is in, but he’s light on his feet and he ran on similar ground here back in the spring and obviously enjoyed it. This is a step up again for him and he’s won.

“He’s an extraordinary horse, because whenever I walk out into the field in front of my house, if there’s 20-odd horses in there, I can guarantee the first one that comes out of the pack to come and say good morning is Martator.

“He’s really inquisitive and I think probably that’s why the cheekpieces helped him a little bit, because it gives him less opportunity to be inquisitive about everything around him.”

Bhaloo showed great heart to get the better of a battle with Bad and make a successful debut over fences in the Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville, rallying to score by a length at 6-4.

Henderson said: “That was good, a good start. I feel it’s quite brave bringing novices here first time, I’ve never been convinced about it, but he was good and Nico gave him a wonderful ride.

“That was all about education, education and more education – and by the time they got to the racing bit, his confidence was up.

“I think we’ve got a seriously big bunch of really good novice chasers and it’s just a matter of where we can slot them all in and the ground is sort of interfering, but we love him. He’s still on a learning curve and I think there’s more to come.”

Chianti Classico put in a bold front-running display to make all in the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase for Kim Bailey and Tom Bellamy.

The seven-year-old enjoyed a fine novice campaign last term, with his three victories including the Ultima at Cheltenham.

Although burdened with 12 stone on his return to action, Chianti Classico was strong enough to hold off the late challenge of Highstakesplayer and Neon Moon, prevailing by three lengths at 11-4.

Bellamy said: “That was absolutely class! It obviously helps when you win, but I had a great time out there whatever. I was just a passenger, to be honest – I’m not going to take any credit.

“I slowed him up where I could, because every time we saw a fence, we were flying. He’s as fit as he possibly could be, he’s been away from home and stuff like that, but it’s still his first run of the season, so I gave him a breather when I could.

“It was just fantastic fun, even if it wasn’t the plan to make the running.”

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