Jack Tudor hailed "genius" Christian Williams for peaking Kitty's Light to perfection in the Coral Scottish Grand National.
The 4-1 favourite finished with his customary late charge to go one place better than 12 months ago. Only stablemate Win My Wings was in front of him then and back-to-back triumphs in Ayr's feature meant much to Glamorgan-based Williams.
His five-year-old daughter Betsy, who was watching the race at home with family, is currently battling leukaemia. Tudor said the three-length call over Coopers Cross (25-1), who held the late charge of Flash De Touzaine (40-1) for the runner-up spot, would give the team a "massive lift."
The Welshman, recently promoted to stable jockey for David Pipe, was winning his second major long distance chase of the season on Kitty's Light. And he was full of praise for Williams' race planning to secure the double at a challenging time.
"I texted Christian before the Eider, 'please put cheekpieces on,' - he said leave it for the bigger day," said Tudor, 20.
"That just proves what Christian can do. He's a fair genius at picking targets and they very rarely miss."
Protestors failed in their bid to halt the four-mile contest, which went off three minutes late. Animal Rising claimed 25 people gained access to the track, a week after their similar stunt at Aintree's Grand National. The activists attempted to attach themselves to jumps and gates at the venue. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said a "number of arrests" had been made.
Newbury also had its fair share of drama, where top jockey Frankie Dettori fell off Chaldean in his 2,000 Guineas trial. The top jockey was cannoned into by a rival horse exiting the stalls and could not keep his partnership with the 5-4 favourite intact.
As Dettori was left to rue his luck on the latest leg of his farewell tour, Chaldean galloped on riderless behind impressive scorer Isaac Shelby (15-2)
"He is smart," said winning trainer Brian Meehan. "It will be French Guineas and then take it from there."
Trainer Andrew Balding said Chaldean remains on-course for Newmarket, following the mishap in the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
Emily Dickinson heads William Hill's Ascot Gold Cup betting at 3-1 after Aidan O'Brien's filly made a winning comeback in Listed company at Naas.
