ROYALE Pagaille proved the king of Haydock for the second year running, as the Wye Valley-trained horse stormed through the Merseyside mud to retain the Betfair Chase in thrilling style.

Having won twice on Friday at Ascot on board the yard's Bucksy Des Epeires and Gemirande, jockey Charlie Deutsch added his third in two days for trainer Venetia Williams on Saturday, pouncing on a mistake at the last by leader Grey Dawning, with his 11-4 shot powering past in the closing strides to win by 2L.

With two more yard wins within minutes of the Haydock Grade 1 triumph – for Martator at Ascot under Ned Fox in the Lay and Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase, and then Fontaine Collonges under Deutsch again in Haydock’s Handicap Chase – it was a high-five over the two days for the King's Caple yard.

Of her Saturday hat-trick, which scooped £350,000 in prize money and came in at a combined 77-1, Williams said: "It's pretty damn good, all in about 40 minutes!

"I'm very proud of Royale Pagaille, Charlie and the team. It was unbelievable because the horse was beaten, wasn’t he?"

And with owner Rich Ricci notching his 100th Grade One win in the 3m 1f race, she added: "I knew in the summer that Rich wasn’t far off 100 and it was mentioned it would be rather amusing if it occurred here!"

A delighted Ricci said: "A lot of the horses we have had have been incredibly talented. Royale Pagaille is sort of a journeyman and I like the underdog. He tries hard and that’s important to me.

“You can make as much money as you want, but you can’t buy thrills, happiness and emotion that this sport brings."

Jockey Deutsch had returned to action the day before at Ascot two weeks after landing on his head in a race accident at Ffos Las.

He steered Bucksy Des Epeires to victory in the horse's first race over fences in the 2m3f novice handicap chase, and followed up by partnering stablemate Gemirande in the feature 2m5f handicap chase.

"I had about ten days off and I was a little bit lost not racing everyday, so it’s nice to get back into it," said the rider.

"It makes it easier when you’re riding nice chasers like that. The two of them jumped very nicely."