Racing: Tiutchev’s absence paves way for Tresor to take Ritz

Ascot’s Ritz Club Chase lost much of its gloss when Tiutchev was a shock withdrawal this morning but champion duo Martin Pipe and Tony McCoy were certainly not complaining as Tresor De Mai took the honours.

Nicky Henderson’s star was a strong fancy to repeat last year’s success in the Grade One contest but he was unable to take part due to a bout of colic, something he suffered badly from last summer.

The nine-year-old, a leading contender for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, was taken to the Royal Veterinary College for immediate treatment.

A dejected Henderson said: ‘‘Johnny, my travelling head lad, rang me at 10.45 and said the horse just wasn’t comfortable and was pawing at the ground. I said I’ll get in the car and you call a vet.

‘‘The vet rang me to say there was absolutely no way he would be able to run.

‘‘The boys know him so well that they were able to spot straight away something was wrong. The horse’s welfare is paramount now.

‘‘Just when we had him back to the horse he was when he won the Arkle when we thought he was a really, really good horse.

‘‘He was brilliant at Sandown the other day and he has been so well at home.’’

His absence led to Venetia Williams’ Banker Count going off as 5-4 favourite but it was McCoy who sealed the day after setting sail turning for home in the extended two mile, three furlong event.

Banker Count was a spent force as Tresor De Mai (9-2) sailed over the final two flights for an emphatic 11 lengths triumph, recording his third success here in the process.

Celibate cut out much of the running and plugged on for third.

‘‘Tony gave him a brilliant ride,’’ said Pipe. ‘‘He was disappointing over further at Doncaster last time so we dropped him back in trip and came back to Ascot which he seems to like.

‘‘I was glad Tiutchev wasn’t in the race but I just hope for his connections that he is alright.

‘‘He loved the ground, jumped well and kept going. He won’t go to Cheltenham though. He’s had a tough race here and it’s too soon.’’

McCoy had ironically considered riding at Warwick this afternoon and giving the Berkshire card a miss.

He said: ‘‘I had actually been wanting to go to Warwick all week to ride Hit and Run but I felt the ground might be a bit soft for him and we had a few here with chances.

‘‘I suppose you should go where the big races are and this one wasn’t without a chance.

‘‘It just proves that the man has one every Saturday. Every big race he has one for it.

Pipe initiated a 180 1/2-1 treble when Tom Scudamore gave Ideal Du Bois Beury a lovely ride to take the £30,000 William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

Scudamore rode the David Johnson-owned gelding as McCoy would have found the weight of 10st too much to do.

But it looked as if McCoy would have the last laugh as he kicked for home on Galant Moss and momentarily looked as if he had his rivals on the stretch.

But Scudamore had plenty in reserve and the duo saw off favourite Farmer Jack, who was given a patient ride by Mick Fitzgerald before being brought to challenge, after the second-last to score by five lengths.

‘‘It was a good finish,’’ said Pipe. ‘‘I thought I might get the forecast at one stage!

‘‘Tom kept him up to his work and got some good jumps out of him. Tony possibly found the weight easier to do on Galant Moss. I don’t know if he would have ridden the other horse if he could have done.’’

Pipe also confirmed Cyfor Malta on target for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. He said: ‘‘It’s too close to Cheltenham to have another run but he is in very good form, terrific.

‘‘As long as it keeps drying out it will be good, we just want the weather to keep drying.

‘‘Seebald (Arkle Trophy) looks my best chance. He’s favourite and the ground drying out will also help him.’’

Miss Williams had earlier unleashed a promising recruit to the British scene when Jimmy Tennis ran out an impressive winner of the opening Amlin Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase.

‘‘I am absolutely thrilled,’’ she said. ‘‘We bought him in November at the French sales and have given him plenty of groceries to fill him up!

The winner is entered for the Arkle Trophy over two miles but his trainer is not sure what his target at Prestbury Park next month will be.

‘‘Everything he has done at home suggests he wants further and it is difficult to know after today as it was not a true run race.’’

Henry Daly looks to have a nice prospect in the lightly-raced Hand Inn Hand, who proved another winner on the comeback trail for Richard Johnson in the Powers Gold Label Handicap Hurdle.

The winner was returning after an enforced absence himself and was three lengths to the good at the line from the McCoy-ridden Idaho d’Ox.

‘‘He was struck into at Newbury (in November) which is why he has not run since,’’ said the winning trainer.

‘‘Soft ground is not essential to him. We will see what the handicapper does but I am thinking about going to somewhere like Aintree with him.’’

Pipe’s hat-trick and a brace for McCoy win number 242 - came when Iznogoud ran out the winner of the Fernbank Novices’ Chase from Valley Henry, who at least jumped better after flopping on his last two starts.

Iznogoud is in the Arkle and Royal & SunAlliance at the Festival but Pipe is undecided as to which will be his race.