Small and mighty Kitty's Light warmed the hearts of racing fans by battling to a historic £200,000 double in the Bet365 Gold Cup.
Just seven days after winning the Scottish Grand National, the ultra-tough campaigner put in another huge performance at Sandown Park. Advertising Christian Williams' training talents, Jack Tudor's mount galloped into contention like a fresh horse and was kept up his work by two-and-a-half lengths.
Hot Weld was the last chaser to bag both races in 2007, rounding off the final day of the National Hunt season in style.
"We just felt that Kitty's Light is a special horse and we wanted to give him the opportunity to do something that not many have done," Williams said.
"His constitution is unbelievable and at this time of year he comes into himself."
First prize for connections of the well-backed 11-4 favourite was £90,000 - adding to the sum of just over £110,000 collected a week ago. Williams collected the trophy wearing a London Marathon medal bearing his daughter Betsy's name.
Racing presenter Hayley Moore ran last weekend's 26.2 mile race for the five-year-old, diagnosed with leukaemia during the week of the Cheltenham Festival.
Hewick was worth the wait for Shark Hanlon as he returned to winning ways in the Bet365 Oaksey Chase.
Not the biggest, like Kitty's Light, the Irish raider skipped the defence of his feature race title to line up in the Grade 2. Rachael Blackmore, deputising for sidelined rider Jordan Gainford, had four lengths in hand on the 6-5 market leader.
"Rachael is so good, when he made his mistake, she took him back and filled him up – he came back on the bridle," said Hanlon, who only just made it to the course after his flight from Dublin was delayed.
"He's a miracle horse."
Grade 1-winning jockey Tom O'Brien was out of luck on the final ride of his career in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle. His runner Thyme Hill could only finish fourth behind the Paul Nicholls-trained Knappers Hill (11-2).
Bryony Frost took over from Harry Cobden, after he was stood down from a fall earlier on the card.
Bet365 Celebration Chase hero Jonbon headlined a 57-1 treble for JP McManus, top National Hunt owner for the 15th time.
Bet365 Gold Cup 2023 full result
1 Kitty's Light 11-4f
2 Moroder 16-1
3 Revels Hill 13-2
4 The Goffer 10-1
