Venetia Williams’ remarkable run of form continued as Royal Pagaille landed a first Grade 1 prize in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
The nine-year-old, who was runner-up in this race in 2021, went one better this time around with a polished round of jumping.
Last year's winner Protektorat was erratic in the jumping department, and it soon became something of a match, with the 8/11 favourite Bravemansgame and 5/1 chance Royale Pagaille both set to fight it out up the Haydock straight.
Daryl Jacob looked to be travelling the kinder of the two on Bravemansgame, but Royale Pagaille found plenty for pressure under Charlie Deutsch and with a good jump at the last, the Venetia Williams-trained runner sealed the deal to score by six and a half lengths.
Grand National hero Corach Rambler stayed on well for pressure to finish a further nine lengths adrift back in third.
It was a fourth course success and the biggest one to date for the French-bred nine-year-old.
Williams, who was arguably enjoying the biggest success in her career, said: "Charlie got him into a great rhythm, but he said for the first circuit he was quite laid back and not really grabbing the bridle, it wasn't until he pulled him out wide that he did.
"He jumped very well, but if you'd seen him school on Thursday you wouldn't believe it. But that's him, he shows very little at home and switches it on for the races.
"You'd have to say that's a career best from him. All horses have their day and have their lesser days. If all the others were at the top of their game, then it might put a different light on it. The same applies to us on other days, on this day we were the best.
"Cheltenham is a unique course; you go up and down and round. Courses like this, dead flat, there shouldn't be hard luck stories so you should have the best horse winning."
She went on: "I'm not saying he's gone into any Gold Cup as favourite, but it's a trappy course. It has to be, as it tests the best, just like the Derby at Epsom.
"He's run in the last three Gold Cups, he should have only been in two but his owners Susannah and Rich (Ricci) had Monkfish who was red-hot favourite in the novice race and duly won.
"He has never had his ground at Cheltenham. Who knows, this year he might.
"Grade 1s are very hard to get so I'm absolutely thrilled for everyone at the yard.
"I'm glad the Irish didn't come but they will be at Cheltenham! I wouldn't have thought we'd be going to take them on over there, we've got a lot of nice races here anyway.
"This ranks pretty high in my career, we've won a lot of nice races but this one is up there."
Meanwhile Paul Nicholls, trainer of runner-up Bravemansgame, was left contemplating his next steps but admitted there were "no excuses".
He said: "He was not good enough on the day, simple as that and there are no excuses. He jumped and travelled well. I thought he was going to win going to four out, but he just didn't quite pick up.
"We will now get him fresh for Kempton (Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day) which probably suits him better anyway.
"Daryl gave him a great ride, but the winner just outstayed him from three out. He has run a good race, and you can't keep them wrapped up in cotton wool. I have won the King George loads of times with horses that ran here, and we will get him back there. He has run well and will run well at Kempton."
Asked if he was pleased with his decision to send stable jockey Harry Cobden to Ascot, where he won on all four of his rides today, Nicholls smiled and replied: "Absolutely – we got it right didn't we?!"
