Crossbow hits the target

The £35,000 (€52,000) Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot has been won by Mark Rimell’s Crossbow Creek, who under Richard Johnson collared long-time leader Demi Beau to score in the closing stages at a price of 9-4.

Demi Beau stayed on to finish a one and a quarter length second, with 11-8 favourite Andreas a further length away.

Rimell said: “He’s a decent horse on this ground (good to firm, good in places, firm in the home straight) and he’s naturally a very good jumper and athletic.

“He’s a quick ground horse definitely and there are two types of ground out there – the Old course is good to firm with no jar and the rest is very quick. The saving grace is that it’s level, but they have obviously put water on the corner turning in and there is still a bit of water on the corner.”

Not surprisingly Johnson thought the ground was fine, saying: “It’s good to firm basically – it is slightly better down the back and slightly quicker in the straight. It’s in good condition considering the amount of work that they did from the fourth-last to the finishing post.”

Ruby Walsh, beaten on the third, added: “It’s prefect ground – lovely.”