Sanctuaire showed he had become the latest member of the Paul Nicholls team to have benefited from a breathing operation when bouncing back to his best in the Isle of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr today.

CAPTAIN CHRIS justified trainer Philip Hobbs’ last-minute decision to run in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham by seeing off the free-going Finian’s Rainbow after the final fence.