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Invictus topples big two
Invictus floored the big two of Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth to land the Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot in impressive fashion.
Favourite Silviniaco Conti disputed matters for a long way with Alfie Spinner, and Bobs Worth appeared to be feeling the pinch after jumping the third-last, with Robert Thornton stalking the principals full of running on the eventual 6-1 winner.
Alan King's charge took a narrow advantage two out and a fine leap at the last put the race to bed as he eased to a three-length success over the running-on Bobs Worth.
King said: "That was much better. He lost a shoe early on at Cheltenham (on New Year's Day) and maybe that affected him. That was more like it today and he liked the decent ground.
"He looked a real prospect when he won at Plumpton, then Cheltenham was slightly disappointing, but we had excuses for that. I'm sure it (the lost shoe) didn't help, and he never seemed very happy. He goes on soft ground, but he appreciates better.
"Walkon is going to have to step up in trip and I don't think this fellow wants to be going back, so they both might end up in the RSA."
Nicky Henderson said of Bobs Worth, who was having his first run since a breathing operation: "That was a fantastic run, especially if you had seen what he looked like three weeks ago."
Chris Giles, part-owner of Silviniaco Conti, added: "I think he might well skip Cheltenham and go to Aintree instead."
King later strengthened his strong hand in the juvenile division as unbeaten Balder Succes (7-4) landed the Trisoft 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle with almost absurd ease.
"I think the soft ground helped and we'll have to look at the Supreme or the Triumph," said the trainer.
