Splendid completes campaign in style

Spendid completed his busman`s holiday over hurdles in the best possible fashion with a game victory at Ascot today.

The Alan King-trained gelding was gaining deserved reward in the Weatherbys Hurdle for a string of consistent efforts over timber this season.

But he is set to go back over fences next season as connections seek to take advantage of a less-stringent handicap mark.

Warren Marston took the 10-year-old to the front at the third-last flight and the pairing stayed on stoutly to hold off his fellow 2-1 joint-favourite Brother Joe by four lengths for the Grade Two prize.

'He has been a great servant to the stable and he loves this fast ground,' said winning trainer Alan King, who was taking his seasonal tally to 34.

'He lost his way over fences a bit last year then he got a stress fracture so we put him back over hurdles just to give him a spin.

'But he enjoyed himself so much we stuck to hurdling and he has had a good old season.'

Spendid is however likely to be going back over the bigger obstacles in the autumn.

'He is rated a lot lower over fences - 132 instead of 148 over hurdles so that will probably be the plan,' King added.

Fait Le Jojo showed admirable resolution to make all in the opening Royal Ascot Racing Club Handicap Hurdle.

The well-backed 13-8 favourite was challenged on all sides approaching the final flight but stuck his neck out gamely for Richard Johnson to hold the late thrust of Romero by one and a half lengths.

There is no let-up for champion jockey Tony McCoy, who collected the most valuable prize of the day and a one-day ban when Upgrade captured the Tote betXpress Silver Bowl Chase.

Martin Pipe`s performer, who has won almost Stg£200,000 in prize money, was sent ahead by McCoy six fences from the finish but looked to have a battle on his hands when Just Jasmine edged ahead on the run to the last.

However, McCoy gave his all and Upgrade, the 4-1 co-favourite, rallied to score by six lengths.

The stewards handed McCoy a one-day ban for careless riding, after Upgrade was found to have bumped Just Jasmine on the run-in.

He did at least have the consolation of a double when Barcelona realised took the Weatherbys and Brightwells Auctioneers Ascot and Malvern Sales Novices` Hurdle.