'He's just a legend' - popular Sceau Royal storms to success on jumps return

Alan King capped a perfect weekend following Trueshan's Champions Day exploits on Saturday when his yard favourite Sceau Royal made an emphatic winning return over jumps in the 2m Listed hurdle.

The nine-year-old took his earnings past £500,000 with a three-and-a-half-length success, quickening in decisive fashion between the final two flights to go clear for a 15th career win.

King, who also won with Isolate in the 2m2f novice handicap chase, said of Sceau Royal: "I'm delighted. He's very special, everyone in the yard adores him. He's quite a naughty little horse at home, he's very aggressive in his stable but that's him at his best. When he goes to the track he's just a legend."

The popular Grade 1 winner is set to tread a familiar path mixing it over hurdles and fences this campaign, with a defence of his Elite Hurdle crown at Wincanton the next port of call.

Sceau Royal (left) storms clear of Christmas Hurdle winner Silver Streak (right) and Teqany (centre)Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"I think he's as good as ever. He looked as if he might come on for it in the paddock and Daryl [Jacob, winning jockey] thinks the same as he took a little blow. As long as he's okay I'd like to go back to the Elite," King added.

"He has to go left-handed over fences now, I watched the head-on today and he shimmied left, he does that over fences all the time and you can't be giving half a length away in those top races. We'll duck and dive and keep enjoying him – he's a lot of fun."

Silver Streak, winner of the Christmas Hurdle last season and the odds-on favourite to take this race for the third year in succession, produced some sketchy jumps on his return and finished a well-held second.

Balko bounces back

A late decision to stay in Britain paid off handsomely for the Williams team as Balko Saint won the 2m novice hurdle for the mother-and-son duo of trainer and owner Jane and jockey Chester.

The four-year-old, whose last two efforts came in France over the summer, bounced back to his best to land the Listed prize and set up a return trip across the channel.

The winning rider told Racing TV: "This was not the plan until last Monday morning, but on ratings he was the best horse in the race. He'll go back chasing in France now because it's such a good programme for him over there."

Results, replays and analysis

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