McGrath magic shines at Ascot

A combination of beginner`s luck and doing his homework paid off for Richard McGrath as he struck it big on his first ride at Ascot today.

The 25-year-old, who is better known plying his trade around the likes of Sedgefield and Hexham, rode a fine waiting race to take the £60,000 Victor Chandler Chase on northern raider Turgeonev.

The 9-2 chance was held up well in rear as Get Real and Wave Rock cut out an early gallop which had some of their rivals off the bridle some way out.

But Turgeonev coasted through to lead at the second-last fence and stayed on strongly to hold Wave Rock by four lengths with Davoski staying on all too late in third.

He was receiving weight from all of his rivals here but it was still a highly-creditable performance from Turgeonev, who has made dramatic improvement since learning to settle in the early stages.

Turgeonev was handed a 16-1 quote (from 33-1) by William Hill for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Coral go 20-1 from40-1 and Victor Chandler 25-1 from 50-1.

Owner David Sills smiled: 'It`s nice to think we have a got a horse who is even good enough to run in a race like that - it would be a privilege to go there.

Tipperary-born McGrath first came to prominence when stable conditional for Jonjo O`Neill three seasons ago. When O`Neill moved south to his new premises at Jackdaws Castle, McGrath chose to remain in the north, firstly being based with Richard Ford and now riding most of Mick Easterby`s string.

'I`d never been to Ascot before but I`d seen it on the television and it is a special track,' he said.

'I was a bit nervous but when I spoke to Tim Easterby he made me feel a bit more confident. In the race, it was brilliant, he did everything I wanted. He fiddled, he stood off, he was perfect.

'It`s the first time I have sat on a quality two-mile horse like that on a racecourse.

Got One Too proved a pleasant surprise for connections when winning the victorchandler.co.uk Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old has progressed in leaps and bounds this season and may now be in line for a tilt at the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury next month, for which the sponsors make him a 9-1 chance from 16-1.

Trainer Nicky Henderson`s stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald opted instead to ride Regal Exit, who remains 7-1 for the Newbury race despite finishing down the field here.

Fitzgerald gained compensation and Henderson a double when Artic Jack turned in a first-class display of jumping to win the Victor Chandler 0% Account Novices` Chase.

'He looked like a good horse there and that`s what we think he is,' said Henderson. 'Three miles-plus is clearly his trip and it`s great to see him jumping like that.'

Hitman finally put his troubles behind him when winning the Victor Chandler Make Sport More Exciting Novices` Hurdle.

The injury-plagued gelding has been held in high regard since his three-year-old days on the Flat with Henry Cecil when he won the Gordon Stakes and finished in the frame in the Great Voltigeur.

But he had failed plenty of times to take the opportunities offered to him since and was sent off a 20-1 no-hoper for this contest.

However under a fine ride from Barry Fenton, Hitman stayed on strongly to beat hot favourite First Love by five lengths with decent yardstick Image De Marque II well held in third.

Tresor de Mai was another horse to return to his best after a spell in the wilderness when he landed the victorcasino.com Handicap Chase. The gelding pulled away to beat Just Jasmine by nine lengths.