'We’ll celebrate like he’s won the Gold Cup' - odds-on favourite trades at 1.01 in running before unlikely defeat

High Game Royal traded at 1.01 in running on the Betfair Exchange after jumping the last of the feature 2m7f handicap hurdle but the odds-on favourite was dramatically denied by the fast-finishing Spike Jones.

Sent off at odds of 8-15 having traded at 1.14 during his last start at Exeter before finishing second, High Game Royal looked set to seal doubles on the day for Ben Jones, who won the 2m3½f novice hurdle on Ben Pauling's It's Hard To Know, and Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, whose Langley Hundred had obliged at Hereford.

High Game Royal jumps the last with a near three-length leadCredit: Sky Sports Racing

High Game Royal looks to have the race in the bag, with Spike Jones appearing a likely runner-upCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Spike Jones (second) makes quick inroads on the run to the lineCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Spike Jones (near) puts his head in front at just the right time to gain an unlikely winCredit: Sky Sports Racing

However, the seven-year-old was collared by Spike Jones, who rallied up the run-in on his first start for 339 days in first-time cheekpieces to score by a short head.

After Spike Jones had provided Ned Fox and his trainer Sam Drinkwater with their second victories of the season, Drinkwater said: “He had all sorts of niggly problems and wind problems. I did advise at one point to retire him so his owners deserve all the credit. 

“He’d done a lot of work and Joe, my brother, rides him out most days. Maybe the better ground and cheekpieces helped him. We’ll celebrate like he’s won the Gold Cup.”

Brilliant Bellamy

Tom Bellamy was riding a treble at Worcester for Kim Bailey when Hurlerontheditch was beaten by a neck at Wetherby last month but he helped the trainer’s eight-year-old be on the right side of a close finish this time when landing the 2m4f handicap chase by a neck from Realisation.

Hurlerontheditch on his way to getting off the mark over fences under Tom BellamyCredit: Mike Hewitt (Getty Images)

Kielan Woods, who rode the runner-up, gained compensation when Golden Ambition justified 7-4 favouritism in the finale. He sealed a double for Pauling.

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