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

Having won twice the day before at Ascot on board the King’s Caple yard's Bucksy Des Epeires and Gemirande, jockey Charlie Deutsch added his third in two days for trainer Venetia Williams, pouncing on a mistake at the last by Grey Dawning, with his 11-4 shot powering past 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 Williams.

Of her Saturday (November 23) hat-trick, which scooped £350,000 in prize money and came in at a combined 77-1, she 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 Rich wasn’t far off 100 and it was mentioned it would be amusing if it occurred here!"

Ricci added: "Royale Pagaille is sort of a journeyman and I like the underdog. He tries hard and that’s important.

“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 fall 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 on stablemate Gemirande in the feature 2m5f handicap chase.