ROYALE PAGAILLE (5-2 favourite) grabbed a second successive victory in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park.
Venetia Williams' eight-year-old - sent off the 5-2 favourite - become only the second dual winner of the Grade Two feature on Merseyside after General Wolfe back in 1998 and 1999.
The Rich Ricci-owned Royale Pagaille won with such authority last year - by 16 lengths under Tom Scudamore - last year. But this time, ridden by Charlie Deutsch he only prevailed by half-a-length from Sam Brown (8-1) - one of his nine rivals who he had to give upwards of 10lb too.
Despite being 7lb higher in the handicap and carrying top weight of 11st10b this time he showed that he was both the class act and a gutsy performer.
It was Royale Pagaille's third win from four starts at Haydock and followed on from his second-placed finish in the Grade Betfair Chase at the Merseyside track in November behind A Plus Tard – admittedly 22 lengths adrift.
Now he could head for another crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he finished sixth behind Minella Indo at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Royale Pagaille was cut to 16-1 from 25-1 for this year's Gold Cup behind 7-2 favourite A Plus Tard.
But connections may not send him to Prestbury Park unless conditions were on the soft side.
Charlie Deutsch had Royale Pagaille in rear but he made his move on the turn for home and after a prolonged battle with Sam Brown he landed a second victory by half-a-length. Fortescue (16-1) was a further two-and-a-half lengths back in third with Remastered a further seven lengths adrift in fourth.
Grand National-winning trainer Williams said: "I'm thrilled. It was tough today, it was a more competitive race than last year and he had loads of weight.
"They went a good gallop, I don't actually think the ground is that bad and it didn't look like he was travelling all that well but his jumping held up well.
"I thought Charlie gave him a superb ride, he had to battle all the way to the line."
Williams was looking to run Royale Pagaille in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but an injury picked up in the Betfair Chase prevented that.
She added: "I've made no secret of the fact that he missed a lot of work and he'd had three slaps down the shoulder before they even turned for home, so it was tough.
"He got a nasty wound on his hind fetlock joint and every time he move it opened up so he was confined to his box for quite a while.
"We could just do with a wet few weeks before Cheltenham now. Believe it or not this is the first time Rich (Ricci, owner) has seen the horse!"
Winning jockey Deutsch added: "That was a really good performance, he had to really tough it out.
"He didn't travel like he normally does so I had to just sit for a while and try to make my way down the back straight but he jumped very well, bar one down the back.
"He was very good up the straight when I needed him but he was getting tired, he had to be brave.
"We need the rain at Cheltenham, last year on good ground it just caught us out."
Owner Ricci clearly enjoyed the victory on his first visit to Merseyside track Haydock. And he said: "I haven't been racing recently because of restrictions and this is my first time at Haydock, but I've got to say I love it.
"People are asking me for photos, I've been having drinks with them, they are all so friendly.
"As long as it is soft enough he'll go to Cheltenham. Last year he finished sixth and he pulled two shoes off and finished lame. With his rating he's got to go for it.
"We're having a transitional season, we don't have the likes of Faugheen or Douvan anymore, but I'm still as keen as ever - I absolutely love the game and days like this are fantastic."
